The Second City e.t.c.: We're All in This Room Together
Second City
Chicago Tribune- Recommended
"...The cast, which mostly is working together for the first time, needs more time to blend. But it's an interesting mix of contrasts: Kosinski is one of those natural Second City worriers, a harried guy with visible veins in his head. Sudik doesn't always carry her weight vocally, but she's the best physical comic on the stage and a decent improviser. And Bryant, who also needs to amp up and the verbosity, has a thing for quirky characters. She just needs to expand her range. Witaske, the showiest of the group, deftly fills out the requisite frat-boy and Chica-gow-dude spot; you could see him working out, too, if he figures out how to go deeper and reveal his insecurities."
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Chris Jones
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
"...The revue’s title also calls to mind many other notions: That in a democracy we really do sink or swim together, just as we do in families, romantic relationships, marriages, friendships, the workplace and even at the checkout counter of a Whole Foods store. As most Second City sketches tend to remind us, we are social animals who often are in a state of high anxiety."
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Hedy Weiss
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
"...Director Ryan Bernier and this topnotch cast make sure that (almost) every single one of these scenes delivers huge laughs. But it's the largely improvised scenes-particularly a gay man introducing his new boyfriend (an unsuspecting audience member) to his family and a pair of elderly women (Aidy Bryant and scene-stealing newcomer Andel Sudik) enjoying a movie in the park-that really stand out, bringing the immediacy and unexpectedness of a live show to the forefront, and entertaining while also reminding the audience that this show is a one-time thing that is only happening while we're all in this room together."
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Zach Freeman
Stage and Cinema- Highly Recommended
"...The new revue operates on familiar Second City turf. The material explores inter-personal relationships, along with excursions into social and political satire and plenty of improvisation. The stagecraft remains deceptively simple – a bare stage with a half dozen wooden chairs as the main props. Audiences don’t go to Second City for spectacle, they go for rapier-like wit delivered by performers who are exceptionally fast on their feet verbally and often physically. And so it is with the current troupe."
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Dan Zeff
ChicagoCritic- Somewhat Recommended
"... High points includea positive spin on being a very small man, a hilarious bandcomposed ofa singer and her four x-husbands,and the exchangeofDear John letters from a couple which tries —unsuccessfully — to remain friends. They take time to develop a skit where newscasters attempting to deliver solid information are continually interrupted by trivial side issues, but the same might be said for the wholeevening. Lotsof side dishes — appetizers and desserts — butmissing a main course."
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Beverly Friend
Chicago Stage Standard- Recommended
"..."We're All in this Room Together," the latest revue at Second City e.t.c., is fun and it's full of fresh faces. Things haven't changed too much after all. For 2 hours everyone must turn off the cell phone and pay attention and focus. In this busy world we all tend to be distracted what seems to be a hundred times a day now so to kick back and laugh for awhile is a good thing."
Sally Jo Osborne
Chicago Now- Highly Recommended
"...“We’re All in This Room…” wisely closes with its most visually inventive sketch: an illustration of the demonic powers of alcohol and controlled substances that transform us from self-determining individuals into mere puppets. This cautionary message hopefully resonated with any heavy drinkers in attendance, and fortunately, for the Second City serving staff, arrived after the check drop."
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Tom Lawler
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
"... Directed by Ryan Bernier, with musical direction by Jesse Case( who also wrote the incidental music) it is the talent that makes this show work. They are the ones who come up with the ideas and put together the flexible script that allows them to “play the audience”. Comics work best with good audiences. In fact, their job is much easier when those entering the theater are truly there for a good time ( turning off that damn cell phone and certainly not texting or e-mailing during the show). The light from a cell phone illuminates your face and causes the performers to lose their concentration, so just because it is not an actual play and you didn’t pay $100 a ticket, understand that the quality o fte show is based on not just the audience having focus on the stage, but the actors as well. Can’t one live without being online for two hours of their lives? Ask yourself this when you attend live productions and the answer should be, Yes! we can!"
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Alan Bresloff
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