The Upright Citizens Brigade: Millennium Approaches and The Upright Citizens Brigade: Perestroika, at Second City E.T.C. and the Improv-Olympic. A newly constructed suburban home with a “hot chicks” recreation room. A shy Girl Scout who befriends and betrays the Unabomber. Two couples playing the “in bed” game with their fortune cookies. Little Donny, whose enormous penis causes his peers to ostracize him. A burned-out cop who resumes his duties to catch a kidnapper. A CEO with a scatological method of boosting his confidence. Three moderately witty musical parodies. A bucket of Truth, the sight of which renders the glimpser mad. Three funny voices in treble range. And one damn good punch line.
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Overall, however, the UCB concentrates harder and cooperates better in Perestroika, which is far more focused and original–in its characterizations, anyway–than part one. Whether this superiority is due to the more congenial space at the Improv-Olympic, its more simpatico audiences, or the troupe’s lack of opportunity to clutter up the show with self-indulgent shtick is unclear. At any rate, anyone desiring a glimpse of the not-insignificant potential of this energetic group should opt for Perestroika over Millennium, and–to be on the safe side–do it soon.
