Playwright: The cast. At: Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets: 773-327-5252 www.Stage773.com; $20. Runs through: July 7
Formed out of improvisational alumni from Second City in 1996, GayCo continues to show its pride with new LGBT sketch segments in its current production, Swallow Your Pride. Unfortunately, a few of these ideas should have remained in the closet.
The story opens with the group at the Pride Parade and the song "Hate Your Cares Away." With changes to Chicago's Pride Parade, it was a surprise that those alterations weren't tackled.
Right after, a "homosexuals in their natural habitat" scene garnered a few chucklesbut the engagement scene that followed fell flat.
The group is not afraid to take names, using real places in Andersonville to poke fun at the name changes and type of cuisine that have happened in the past few years in the Acre space. However, outsiders that aren't familiar with that neighborhood are not going to understand the inside joke.
Gayco takes on the dated expression "that's so gay" but society seems to have moved on from that bullyingso why hasn't this troupe?
Speaking in unison as a theme makes Swallow choke and seems like a misstep from director Sabrina Harper.
The cast put together the material so the members really do themselves a disservice, although their performances are good. Standouts such as Judy Fabjance and John Loos know how to have fun and make some difficult pieces work.
A comment about people posting on Facebook instead of actually fixing the problem in the Congo is possibly a good ideabut why not hone in on something that might actually hit home with the audience? For example, one possible resonant issue involves people who self-promote on Facebook or tweet about meaningless things.
If you are looking for Large Marge to play "The Star-Spangled Banner" on the jugs, then this is the humor for you. Prohibition liquor laws treated to the tune of a West Side Story medley seem out of place and strange.
The story choice is where the stumbling happens, with some of GayCo's past productions being more successful. The audience is looking to drink beer from a pitcher while seeing a fun show that takes on LGBT subject matter they can directly relate to. This company attempts that, but doesn't quite make it out of the parade.
GayCo seems to be at its best when things are taken over the top, but the subjects lampooned from the workshops make this 16th-anniversary show's fun a little hard to swallow.
Swallow
Your Pride
Playwright: The cast
At: Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.
Tickets: 773-327-5252
www.Stage773.com; $20
Runs through: July 7
BY JERRY NUNN
Formed out of improvisational alumni from Second City in 1996, GayCo continues to show its pride with new LGBT sketch segments in its current production, Swallow Your Pride. Unfortunately, a few of these ideas should have remained in the closet.
The story opens with the group at the Pride Parade and the song "Hate Your Cares Away." With changes to Chicago's Pride Parade, it was a surprise that those alterations weren't tackled.
Right after, a "homosexuals in their natural habitat" scene garnered a few chucklesbut the engagement scene that followed fell flat.
The group is not afraid to take names, using real places in Andersonville to poke fun at the name changes and type of cuisine that have happened in the past few years in the Acre space. However, outsiders that aren't familiar with that neighborhood are not going to understand the inside joke.
Gayco takes on the dated expression "that's so gay" but society seems to have moved on from that bullyingso why hasn't this troupe?
Speaking in unison as a theme makes Swallow choke and seems like a misstep from director Sabrina Harper.
The cast put together the material so the members really do themselves a disservice, although their performances are good. Standouts such as Judy Fabjance and John Loos know how to have fun and make some difficult pieces work.
A comment about people posting on Facebook instead of actually fixing the problem in the Congo is possibly a good ideabut why not hone in on something that might actually hit home with the audience? For example, one possible resonant issue involves people who self-promote on Facebook or tweet about meaningless things.
If you are looking for Large Marge to play "The Star-Spangled Banner" on the jugs, then this is the humor for you. Prohibition liquor laws treated to the tune of a West Side Story medley seem out of place and strange.
The story choice is where the stumbling happens, with some of GayCo's past productions being more successful. The audience is looking to drink beer from a pitcher while seeing a fun show that takes on LGBT subject matter they can directly relate to. This company attempts that, but doesn't quite make it out of the parade.
GayCo seems to be at its best when things are taken over the top, but the subjects lampooned from the workshops make this 16th-anniversary show's fun a little hard to swallow.