Woolly Mammoth Theatre: Dance Like There's Black People Watching

 Woolly Mammoth Theatre must have some sort of arrangement with Chicago's Second City comedy troupe.  Every year around this time (Nov-Dec) they stage a comedy revue that was conceived of by actors at Second City.  Sometimes a local actor will join the cast.  With this production it was a senior theatre major from Howard University.  The title of the show "Dance Like There's Black People Watching" didn't seem to be a propos of anything except evocative.  The theme was African American culture with the catch phrase "We Are Not A Monolith"--reference Black Culture.  

In two acts the six members of the ensemble rotate in and out of comedy sketches of various length.  The highlight of the first act was when a White audience member was recruited to play the "Scrooge" role in an homage to Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" complete with visits by the Nigger of the Past, the Nigger of the Present, and the Nigger of the Future.  It was hilarious, but also made it's point in the same way that I just did by not using the euphemism "The N-Word".  The highlight of the second act was an audience participation improvisation between two of the players.  

An example of skit:  One actor as Eve is trying to resist taking a bite out of the apple.  Another actor as the snake with sibilant S's is trying to entice her.  When she gives in the snake slips away and Adam arrives.  Adam berates Eve saying, "What are you doing!?  God told us not to eat the apple!"

Eve replies, "But Mike Tyson said it would be okay."  Budum dum...  Corny.

It was a fun time and the energy and commitment of the ensemble kept the content engaging.  My only complaint: No Program.  

The Ensemble Clockwise from upper Right: Jillian Ebanks, Arlieta Hall, Max Thomas, Tameika Chavis, Breon Arzell, and Julius Shanks II

Breon Arzell, Arlieta Hall and Tameika Chavis; dancing, rapping and singing were woven throughout.

Perhaps the funniest vignette of the show.  Breon and Arlieta portray TV aerobics instructors.  The theme of the episode is shopping and all the moves have to do with grocery shopping.  Breon's character is gay, so there a lot of camp.  The exercises continue with driving the groceries to Arlieta's house where they discover his husband is home from work.  Then they find him in bed with his lover and aerobic homicide ensues!