Spotlight at The Second City: May Review

Can you fall for a comedy act in half an hour? Since last September, the monthly Spotlight at the Second City showcase of emerging sketch acts has proven it’s not just possible — it’s probable.

This month’s double bill of funny folks managed to win the audience’s hearts. A second and third date are definitely required and much-anticipated.

Usually co-hosted by co-producers Gabe Meacher and Taylor Hreljac, this month’s program was introduced by just Meacher, who got the night off to a lively start by having us take out our phones, fire up our social media apps and post about Hreljac’s absence, tagging him. (Examples: Taylor is a big idiot… Taylor is a bigot — combining the two words — and Taylor is bad at pool.)

First up was solo sketch comic Janelle McGuinness, who has the chutzpah, range and talent of a young Kate Berlant. Coming out to jazzy music and wearing a red jumpsuit, she opened by suggesting that stand-up is the devil’s art form; in particular, he feeds on crowd work, which she encouraged by fearlessly engaging with the crowd (she even chatted with one of our moms on speaker phone).

She returned to this character several times, finding something new each time.

She filled out her set with a couple of amusing characters. Her redneck anti-vaxxer who switches political sides (he agrees to be vaccinated once he finds out it’s free) has promise, but the character isn’t quite there yet. Much funnier is her duet about a woman’s unhealthy relationship with the TTC, whom she imagines as a surly, cocky f-boy.

McGuinness knows how to enhance her writing with production values — the TTC subway closing sound was a hoot — but a dramaturg and director could take her act to the next level.

Next up were the cleverly named sketch trio DEBIT-CASH-OR-CREDIT, who created some memorable scenarios that, with a bit of editing, could be comedy gold.

The fun opening scene relied on our knowledge of a horror film icon, and while the writing was good, and Emma Friedman’s unknowing woman kept things grounded, it was hampered by some audio issues because actor Mike Jankovich in character and in a mask).

In one very funny sketch, the three are playing strip poker, when one of them (Paul Smith) takes the stripping a little too seriously. Prop comedy isn’t the most sophisticated, but in this instance the laughs kept coming.

The boldest sketch took that inspiring video about Mr. Rogers’ historic stand against racial inequality and made it into something hilariously uninspiring and low-key icky. Brilliant.

Their repeated sketch about waiting for a “Mr. Second City” to arrive didn’t fully pay off — was it a reference to a certain Christopher Guest film? But I have a feeling these talented comics won’t have to wait long before they amass a very devoted following.

Spotlight at The Second City continues monthly. Tickets and schedule details here.

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