3 MAD RITUALS
at the Wrigleyside
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Played back-to-back and without intermission in what becomes a very grueling and focused comedy marathon, the three “rituals” are Deconstruction, the Movie, and the reliable Harold, which build slowly to a full head of steam. The first improv method sets up a scene with variations, based on the line of poetry, that can be looted later for laughs. Narrated like a film scenario, the Movie comes complete with imaginary camera angles, shooting sequences, and verbal special effects. The loosely structured long-form Harold turns its opening scene inside out to create three related scenes, but the idea is to wind up back at the original. As Close sees it, the perpetual-motion Harold, with its cascading spontaneity, reflects the workings of a “group mind.” To make it hum, a tight-knit team of yuksters must in effect chew the same funny bone.
Among other wild touches, the Family provided weird readings for the brothers’ narcissistic ceremonies. Among the adept performances in this Deconstruction was understudy Craig Cackowski’s sharp turn as a heretic with attitude (he filled in for Ian Roberts).
