Theater Review: The Second City Does Dallas

If you are from Dallas, live in Dallas, love Dallas, or have a Texas-shaped ounce of 'pride' in this city, you HAVE to see this show!   Big Tex, big business, big buildings, big egos, and big hair equal big, big fun.

With 94 seats of cushy, living room type upholstered furniture backed by several rows of lounge tables; a couple dozen chandeliers of various shapes, sizes, ages, and origins suspended overhead; and a convenient bar right in the performance space, Scenic Designer Bob Lavallee and Prop Master John Slauson have transformed the Wyly Theatre into a comedy club ‘slash’ SoHo coffeehouse. Add some roaming overhead lights washing over the room (lighting design by Aaron Johansen) along with some jazzy music (live music and music direction by Matthew Loren Cohen), and Dallas Theater Center was abuzz on opening night with an anticipatory vibe resulting in more excited pre-show chatting and laughing than usual ... all the way up to the thunderous black-out opening scene.

The Second City theatre in Chicago (which has cultivated some of the biggest talents in comedy including John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Martin Short, Mike Myers, Steve Carell, Tina Fey, and so many more) has come to Dallas to put the city on trial for our unapologetic display of big buildings, big business, and big egos during a time when the rest of the country continues to experience economic struggle.And Dallas’ self-righteous response to its accusers?

“I don’t have to be accountable; I’m Dallas, and I kick @$$!”

Utilizing sketch comedy skits and on-the-spot improv techniques, The Second City cast members join DTC sweetheart Liz MIkel for an evening of what should be considered over-the-top (but actually remarkably accurate) references to some of Dallas’ more well known residents such as Tony Romo, Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, Mayor Mike Rawlings, John Wylie Price, and even Amon Carter.

Scott Morehead and John Sabine give a hilarious (and quite convincing) argument regarding exactly how the area’s gay men could potentially win over Dallas women to themselves making marriage impossible for straight guys, Martin Garcia becomes a potential purchaser of Museum Tower real estate ... ‘cuz he’s an evil genius with a penchant for boom-chicka-wow-wow, Frank Caeti dons the famous skimpy uniform and gives a freestyle dance audition in hopes of becoming a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, Liz Mikel brings us up to speed on ‘things they don’t tell you about birthin’ babies’, and Amanda Blake Davis enlightens us with tips on living and driving in Dallas as well as the perils of becoming southern white trash. One of our personal favorites also included John Sabine’s B-Rad inspired depiction of nine-year-old Klyde Warren’s response to being the namesake of our brand new park over Woodall Rodgers.

And, as if you needed any other reason to see this show, Liz Mikel sings. ‘Nuff said.

“The Second City is HERE Dallas. CLAIM YOUR BOUNTY!!”