Review: Second City revue 100% Real Human gets physical
The comedy institution’s 92nd show avoids polarizing topics and goes for silliness and sight gags
In today’s divisive world, it’s hard to agree on anything political or cultural. Which might be one of the reasons why Second City’s latest show, 100% Real Human (Rating: ✭✭✭), avoids polarizing topics and relies mostly on silliness and physical humour.
Sure, there’s a standoff between Olivia Chow (Antony Hall, in a bright pink blazer and wig) and Doug Ford (Chelsea Larkin in a black suit jacket and wig), but there are no references to anything controversial either has done. Instead, they sing a duet from an Oscar-winning film and the scene just... ends.
That kind of sums up the show as a whole. It’s not the best-written revue, but it does provide a showcase for some of its winning performers.
One of them is Monica Garrido Huerta, who is eccentric and charming as a woman stuck in Toronto traffic who carries on conversations leading to relationships with other drivers stuck in their cars, like Tim Blair, who initially wants none of it but soon gives in as Garrido Huerta brings out snacks. Cute and inoffensive.
Larkin and Gavin Pounds play a dating couple the morning after their first overnight stay, with each wondering if they did things like snore, talk in their sleep and make any noises. The answers, complete with bravura physical flashbacks, are highly amusing — the finale is fitting during this spooky month.