From Publishers Weekly
Like McCrohan's earlier celebrations of TV's Honeymooners, this informal, name-dropping history of the influential Second City comedy troupe offers considerable substance to readers able to bypass the hype, the sweeping generalizations and the pedestrian prose. The Second City members themselves engagingly recall their illustrious forerunners, such as Mike Nichols and Elaine May; their group ethos (an emphasis on character acting, ensemble playing and improvisation); their occasional casting mistakes (Joan Rivers); and their major impact on TV. The last proves fascinating: the actors trace classic bits from Saturday Night Live and SCTV back to their own stage improvs. And Second City's influence is not overstated: alumni include John Belushi, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Alan Alda, Shelley Long, Valerie Harper, Barbara Harris, John Candy, Andrea Martin, Martin Short, Alan Arkin and many more.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Second City, Chicago's famous improvisational comedy troupe, began in 1959 and has had an incalculable influence on mainstream comedy, mainly because of the remarkable number of alumni who have become stars. McCrohan enthusiastically explores the history of Second City, primarily through past performer's recollections of their experiences with the troupe. The troupe was known for sharp satire and breaking taboos onstage. As their audiences grew, the material became broader-based, but the teamwork and trust essential to improvisational acting remained. The author has a lively style, but the heavy reliance on quotes makes it repetitive. For those interested in Second City and for aspiring actors.Marcia L. Perry, Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield, Mass.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
