The Real Chicago

Top Menu

  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

Main Menu

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login
  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

logo

Header Banner

The Real Chicago

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
  • Chicago’s hidden gems: Kiss Kiss Cabaret, Unabridged Bookstore, Lulu Belle’s Pancake House and TNT at The Annoyance

  • New on the scene: Recapping recent restaurant and bar openings in Chicago

  • The Big City Blog: A Chicago summer bucket list

  • Outdoor drinking: A guide to some of our favorite beer gardens and rooftops in Chicago

  • A day at the museum: Exploring the iconic Field Museum in Chicago

First Look - Reviews
Home›featured-blogs›First Look - Reviews›First Look review: The return of Second City’s “Holidazed and Confused” is a romping good way to poke fun at the holiday season

First Look review: The return of Second City’s “Holidazed and Confused” is a romping good way to poke fun at the holiday season

By TheRealChicagoOnline
December 10, 2016
1575
0
Share:

holidazed-and-confused-car

By Trent Modglin
Photos by Timothy M. Schmidt

Playing at: Up Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave., through Dec. 30. Visit www.UpComedyClub.com for showtimes.

Basic storyline: The Second City’s holiday classic returns with brand-new material and a fun new cast (Ryan Asher, Emily Fightmaster, Laurel Krabacher, Carley Moseley, Jeffrey Murdoch and Scott Nelson) to remind us how crazy life becomes around the holidays, using a creative blend of skits and improvisation.

Flashbacks to classic Christmas movies being re-made in 2016 (Macaulay Culkin’s mom calls him on his cell phone and sends an Uber to the house so he can get to the airport in Home Alone), to sketches about how Rudolph’s ego has taken over (and the harsh backlash he receives from the other reindeer), being dateless at the office holiday party (“I like being single. I have my own bed, and I can eat in it whenever I want to.”) and unnecessary concessions that are made for the one Jewish person in the office, this show tackles it all.

“If you’ve never heard a chorus make up a reggae song about bow-legged reindeer, you’re in for a treat.”

What stood out: This cast of fresh faces is talented, no doubt, and full of surprises. Consistency reigns throughout, as there are few drop-offs from one sketch to the next, and each member of the troupe takes turns in a starring role. Two improv sets — with suggestions from the audience — stood out in particular. If you’ve never heard a chorus make up a reggae song about bow-legged reindeer, you’re in for a treat. And a Hallmark Channel holiday program spontaneously created about the life of an audience member visiting from Durango, Colorado, was gracefully hilarious.holidazed-and-confused-babies

The cast effortlessly tackles touchy social issues (how Monopoly is too close of a representation of our government), clumsy traditions from their own childhood (rehearsed dance routines in front of the family), and how it’s OK for divorced, single moms to just want to smoke weed and watch TV when their kids go to their dad’s house for a few days over Christmas break.

Final thoughts: With a mix of eccentric and relatable holiday material, this show captures your interest from the outset and doesn’t let go. There’s something for everyone, no matter what your taste in comedy, and it’s fun to see several future stars in the making on stage. All in all, a great way to spend a cold December evening.

Opinions from the audience:

“I thought it was a good mix that pokes fun at nuances of Christmas and the holiday season combined with intricacies of modern social-political climate. The cast was fairly balanced with each, at times, carrying the comedic spotlight and at their best during improv skits.”

— Mark Schwalenberg

“I was able to see Holidazed and Confused two nights in a row and wouldn’t hesitate to go back for thirds. It’s a safe bet that any show at Second City will be good just based on content alone, but what makes a show go from good to great is how the cast delivers it. The cast for H&C just might be the best I’ve ever seen there. Individually, all six of them were unique and strong, but together they became a comedic force for both improv and sketches. Highly recommended.”

— Adam Taylor

TagsCarley MoseleyEmily FightmasterHallmark ChannelHolidazed and ConfusedHome AloneJeffrey MurdochLaurel KrabacherRyan AsherScott NelsonSecond CityThe Real ChicagoUp Comedy Club
Previous Article

The Big City Blog: Breaking down the ...

Next Article

We Ask, They Answer: Q&A with Paul ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

TheRealChicagoOnline

Related articles More from author

  • Chicago Insider

    Chicago Insider: Loyanna Grierson on free activities, Wrigley tours and El Mariachi for go-to Mexican

    October 26, 2015
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • The Big City Blog

    The Big City Blog: Illinois Craft Beer Week is back — bigger and better than ever — May 18-25

    May 11, 2018
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • The Big City Blog

    Inside Scoop: Massive FoBAB beer festival returns to Chicago this weekend, Nov. 12-13

    November 11, 2021
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • Shop Around the Corner

    Shop Around the Corner: Homemade jeans and t-shirts at Dearborn Denim and the Oak Street staple Tory Burch

    April 8, 2019
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • General Features

    Spotlight on The Den Theatre: An artist’s dream — and coffee shop/bar — in Wicker Park

    May 24, 2015
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • We Ask, They Answer

    We ask, they answer: Q&A with Jena Gambaccini, the fashionista behind the popular Chi City Fashion blog

    July 12, 2016
    By TheRealChicagoOnline

You might be interested

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    No vegetarians allowed: Examining Chicago’s love affair with steak

  • Around TownGeneral FeaturesOther Recent Articles

    Outdoor drinking: A guide to some of our favorite beer gardens and rooftops in Chicago

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    Coffee craze: Exploring the best, most unique independent coffee shops Chicago has to offer

Originally launched in 2006, The Real Chicago — as a glossy entertainment magazine, website and email newsletter — has consistently provided the very best insider information, features and reviews to help both tourists and active locals get the most out of exploring the greatest city on Earth.
© Copyright The Real Chicago. All rights reserved.