KIKU’S KOMEDY WORKOUT
(2) Character jokes aren’t funnier when the actors don’t take their characters seriously.
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Yes, I had plenty of time to ruminate philosophically on laughs because only one of the acts the Saturday I was there achieved any consistency in generating them. Kiku’s Komedy Workout is a revolving showcase for various Chicago comedy acts. The lineup my night consisted of three stand-up comics–Tim Joyce, Ty Phipps, and Jim Kopsian–and two comedy troupes, Creature Feature and the Underground Theatre Conspiracy.
The Underground Theatre Conspiracy has abandoned the mostly improvised format of their Batman Died for Our Sins in favor of all scripted material, of which we got a sample here–which is to say, we got more of the fresh and intelligent ideas and sharp execution that have made the best of the Batman show so memorable. “Neurotic Dating Service” matched people on the basis of their most irritating flaws; a comedian played to an all-Amish audience in “the hottest comedy club in Lancaster County”; “Interfamily Videos” provided boring lectures on life to children of busy working parents. There was also a sweet and touching sketch about an interracial couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary–its inclusion in the Conspiracy’s repertoire is yet another demonstration of their courage and innovativeness.
