If you’re like me you enjoy a good improv or sketch comedy show, but can’t help cringing at the forced zaniness of some of the bits, or the hackneyed quirkiness that passes for characterisation. I was therefore pleasantly surprised by Cupid Has a Heart On: A Musical Guide to Relationships at the Io Theater.
The ratio of enjoyment to cringing is weighted heavily in enjoyment’s favour (read: I was laughing nearly the entire time…and I am a tough audience).
The cast of Cupid has a Heart On, The Cupid Players
It’s not that the show avoids clichés: many of the familiar tropes and characters are in attendance, from those endless variations on small genitalia jokes, to extravagantly bitchy girlfriends that your friends love to hate. In the end, it doesn’t matter. Cupid is musical revue, with singing so energetic and songs so irresistibly catchy that you find yourself smiling (and laughing!) from beginning to end.
All the scenes and music were created by The Cupid Players, under the direction of Brian Posen. They didn’t take the easy path and simply change the lyrics to popular tunes, a la Weird Al Yankovic; these songs are 100% original. My personal favourites included a raucous number celebrating the art of plastic surgery, a song that involved one of the female players tying up a male member of the audience, and a – um – robust take on drunken one-night stands.
Perhaps the most clever song, sung by Ranjit Souri, was a musical translation of common bar speak into scientific language.
Oh, and brace yourself for the last number of the night. I won’t give away the surprise, but no matter who you are, it will make you blush!
Tickets can be purchased online, at the Io box office or by calling 773-880-0199. It’s a great idea for a date night (VALENTINE’S DAY IS THIS WEEKEND!), though be warned: the Io theater is located in the very heart – or should I say liver – of Wrigleyville. In order to get to the show, you will have to wade through drunken bros and middle-aged people trying to relive their college years. Good luck.
Dev xx
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12/02/2010 at 7:15 am
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26/09/2011 at 3:05 pm
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[...] I’ve only been to iO Improv a couple of times, and have never been disappointed by the comedic talent there. What better way to end the week than laughing out loud to the musings of the Improvised Shakespeare troupe? I had no idea what to expect, and my guy was a little afraid that comedy in iambic pentameter would not only be confusing, but just wouldn’t work. After much debate, we bought tickets, took a shot of whiskey (Okay, maybe two…cheers!) and made our way to Wrigleyville. [...]