Review: Second City e.t.c. Puts on a Must-See Night of Fun With Best Kept Secret—Tell Everyone

Review by Erin Ryan. 

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The Second City e.t.c.’s 48th revue—Best Kept Secret: Tell Everyone— is intelligent, wacky, and roll-on-the-floor hilarious. Director Carisa Barreca designed a sharp, energetic, and wildly creative comedy show. It is the perfect balance of zany and satirical, using whimsy and light-heartedness to touch on a wide range of topics from immigration to menopause to saying goodbye to your good pal, spider. In the current polarized political climate, the troupe is able to use this platform to share their thoughts and opinions in a good-natured and comical way. My personal favorite is a bit called “sexual secrets.”

The show is quite interactive in that they bring several audience members onto the stage to perform with them. Don’t be too sad if you don’t get chosen because everyone still gets the opportunity to participate in the night’s shenanigans. A small piece of paper will be at your table where you can confess a secret and put it into a bucket, and many are then revealed throughout the show during various sketches, improvised scenes, and internal bits. A hilarious and genius way to include the audience… and the things people are willing to confess will leave your jaw on the floor.

(L-R) Claudia Martinez, Meghan Babbe, Javid Iqbal, Jenelle Cheyne, Terrence Carey, Tim Metzler. Photo by Timothy M. Schmidt.

The cast brings incredibly playful energy to opening night. Meghan Babbe, Terrence Carey, Jenelle Cheyne, Javid Iqbal, Claudia Martinez, and Tim Metzler all bring a unique talent to the stage whether it’s singing, dancing, or just their very particular comedic viewpoint. These six comedians create a very versatile and active show. Martinez’s character work was out of this world. Not only was she put in an unbelievable number of wigs and costume pieces, but her voices and physicality of each character were  specific and distinct. I found myself laughing and crying over her character as a young boy who uses DJ-ing to communicate with his father. 

Not only are the performances by the actors amazing, but the sound and lighting design, done by John Love and Abby Beggs, adds a wonderful tone and environment to the sketches, and even plays its own role in adding comedic effect to the show.

 (L-R) Terrence Carey, Jenelle Cheyne, Tim Metzler. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.

If you are looking for a fun night out in the city of Chicago, look no further than Best Kept Secret: Tell Everyone. The show plays on Thursdays at 8pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm and 10pm, and Sundays at 7pm in the e.t.c Theater, located at 230 W North Ave, 2nd floor of Piper’s Alley. Tickets start at $29 and are available at The Second City Box Office, by phone at 312-337-3992 or online.

Erin Ryan is a Chicago-based writer and comedian. Ryan graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in theater and is excited to meld the two worlds that excite her most: theater and writing. In her free time, you can find Ryan traveling, hiking, hanging out with friends, or asking a stranger if she can pet their dog. 

For more information on this and other plays, see theatreinchicago.com.

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