Performing improv has to be a blast … until you can’t think of anything to say. That’s when you go to Plan B, which sometimes involves “Saved by the Bell” or Ashlee Simpson. Trust us, read on and it will make sense.
This week, RedEye spotlights five comedians from Second City’s “Afro-Futurism” show, which takes place every Wednesday.
The panelists: Felonious Munk, Sonia Denis, Dave Helem, Martin Morrow and Dewayne Perkins.
Every sketch is funnier once you add …
Felonious Munk: … lots of wigs.
Sonia Denis: … a catchphrase like “that’s what she said” or “my wife.” Actually don’t do that. Everyone in the sketch will hate you and the only person who will be amused is the guy in every office who still thinks this is funny.
Dave Helem: … Chicago people. We make the world go round.
Martin Morrow: … ME. *hands over head shot and resume*
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Dewayne Perkins: … three twirls and a dip.
Where do you find the humor in March Madness?
Felonious Munk: The tears of the flautists in various bands.
Sonia Denis: Everything I know about sports I’ve learned from watching 30 for 30 documentaries. I can tell you why everyone hates Christian Laettner, but I’m not sure I know what a layup is.
Dave Helem: Gambling addiction. Broken marriages due to severe losses.
Martin Morrow: There’s nothing more beautiful than watching an adult in face paint cry. That’s the real American dream.
Dewayne Perkins: Is that a sports thing? The only sport I acknowledge is rhythmic gymnastics.
When forgetting one’s lines in the middle of a scene, what’s the best way to recover onstage?
Felonious Munk: Keep talking. The audience has no idea what’s supposed to be next.
Sonia Denis: Try to let whoever is in the scene know so they can give you a hint. If you’re in the scene alone, walk off stage, get on a plane and leave the country.
Dave Helem: Think about puppies. And then “Saved By The Bell.” And then the movie “Showgirls.”
Martin Morrow: Pull an Ashlee Simpson and start dancing. Everyone loves an awkward jig.
Dewayne Perkins: Start crying. That gets you immediate sympathy from the audience.
What aspect of living in Chicago doesn’t get skewered enough?
Felonious Munk: That they call that area around the lake a “beach.” Loooooose definition.
Sonia Denis: First, if I have one more conversation with a Lyft driver about winter, I’m going to kill myself. As a transplant, I’d say everyone’s obsession with Italian beef, which is just meat in soup, is kind of weird.
Dave Helem: I don’t know what skewered means.
Martin Morrow: That we watched Rahm Emanuel turn into Emperor Palpatine and let it slide. WE SHOULD ALL STILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE BLACK SITE PRISON.
Dewayne Perkins: There are simply not enough Shoe Carnivals, and also the segregation of the city.
When practicing improv, it’s best to avoid …
Felonious Munk: … tight jeans. Makes it difficult to think quickly.
Sonia Denis: In my first improv class, there was this one guy who would always do a Spanish accent whenever he did a character. He was white, so it made every scene racist. Avoid bad accents and avoid setting scenes in Starbucks.
Dave Helem: … boxes. Just flow. Be like water or baggy underwear.
Martin Morrow: … racist, sexist and homophobic thoughts and material. Or people who can’t function without drugs.
Dewayne Perkins: … thinking comedy gives you permission to say or do terrible things. IT DOESN’T!
Editor’s note: Panelists’ opinions are their own.
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