L
ast September, former White House press secretary Sean Spicer appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and was asked about the president’s obsession with fake news. Spicer took a breath, futzed with his jacket, and explained how news has moved beyond “true or false” and into an arms race for the truth adjacent. “They’d rather be first than right,” Spicer said of modern journalists. “That’s unfortunate, and it gives a bad name to those who actually do take the time.”
The cast’s quick wit keeps scenes from falling into maudlin territory. The
jovial Sayjal Joshi appears as an ICE agent in the deportation sketch, and
gamely plays along with the Mexican immigrant who turns himself in. In
another sketch about a couple’s confrontation over whether they should
marry, Joshi deftly hops from comedic bickering with her boyfriend into
measured, sincere dialogue with him about the ramifications of engagement.
This loaded conversation takes place, of course, once the two enter the
aforementioned zone of truth together.
Through 9/2: Thu 8 PM, Fri-Sat 8 and 11 PM, Sun 7 PM, Second City E.T.C., 1608 N. Wells, 312-337-3992, secondcity.com, $21-$48.
