A Review of the Comic Thread's New Show

So, I saw your show recently entitled "God? Dammit!" at the Apple Tree Theatre in Highland Park. I noticed, also, that you managed to get a review from a certain local newspaper to attend one of your earlier shows. For some reason, this particular reviewer gave you a particularly scathing and negative review. I am baffled by this and thought you should know that up front.

You were kind enough to invite me to one of your read-throughs and I wrote about that. It was interesting and fun, if a bit intimidating. Of course, when I came to your show, you guys all recognized me and were so nice I felt a bit like a celebrity, which always lends well to a positive review later.

Having seen the show, I am confused by some of the things the review of this certain local newspaper said. First off, she must have thought she was seeing some downtown Chicago GRAAAAHHHHHNNNDDDD THEEAAAAAHHHHTAAAHHH experience rather than local suburban sketch comedy. Second, she must have thought that the opening musical act, which was not officially part of the show, was officially part of the show. Third, I saw very few poop-related jokes and saw not a single "stage-hand" during the entire show.

Now, as for the rest of you, I shall address you individually:

Nic DeGrazia - Oh Nic. Nic. Nic. Nic. Nickie, Nickety, Nic, Nic. How shall I say this without getting you banned from some suburbs in and around Chicago such as Skokie? You...make Hitler funny. Yes, I know, that is hardly politically correct but seeing Hitler describing his sandwich containing "ze butter made from ze peanut" had me in stitches. I know you are also one of the writers of the show and have to give you a big thumbs up and an "atta-boy."

Brian Quijada - You sir are a funny man. You. Yes, you. I still laugh when I think of the sea captain guy you did from the year before and your portrayal of Lucifer/the Devil ranks right up there. Your portrayal of the snake was also one for the books. Your costume as the snake, however, left little to the imagination, which I find somewhat disturbing. You are very funny.

Sonia Gecker - Yes, you were the person I was thinking of in my previous article when I mentioned how the "actors" were looking at me at the read-through like some kind of interloper. I should have known you were just preparing for your role as the intolerant fundamentalist Christian person later in the show. You came up to me after the show and were a delight, but you needn't have. That very hot outfit you wore in your "demon" persona more than made up for it. I don't know where TCT keeps finding these small, spritely, spirited women, but they seem to manufacture them, perhaps in a factory in Asia somewhere, and I applaud it. I had better stop now before someone accuses me of being "sweet" on you.

Naomi Finkelstein - You are some kind of dynamo on stage. I loved your portrayal of the talk show host known as "Shooper." I have no clue where that name came from, but your constant repeating of "Shooper Show" had me laughing. You also got waaayyyy into your demonic role as well and I think it freaked out the people who were sitting to the right of me that you flipped off. I applaud that, but they may be in therapy even as I write this.

Jake Grafstein - I thought your portrayal of agent Jackie Goldstein was outstanding. You had a lot of words to say and you had to say them very fast and I have no clue how you did it. You also managed to ad-lib a few times and to great effect. Unlike the reviewer from a certain local newspaper, I felt your portrayal had more in common with Jerry Stiller from "Zoolander" than Jeremy Piven from "Entourage" but I bet that reviewer has never seen "Zoolander" as I am sure she thinks it is beneath her. You ended up being the center of the show and you held it together beautifully.

Matt Birnholz - You ended up turning in two of the most funny and memorable performances of the night. As the butt-kissing Jobson you stole every scene you were in. Then came my personal favorite, the demon who just kept saying, "I keep stabbing myself in the head." Next year I hope they base the entire show around that guy alone. Bravo, Dr. Lovehandles, bravo.

Zack Sorman - You are a big man and you are a brave man. To expose your stomach as Hubert took guts but the laughs it got were worth it. I also enjoyed Carl the demon cook and the way you threw around Quijada as the security office on the Shooper Show also had me in stitches. Maybe Carl and the head-stabbing guy need their own show.

Ben Tatar - If you are what God is really like, I need to look into taking up Satanism. It was good to see you to of the banana costume from the previous year, but I hope the banana remains a standard part of your repertoire in years to come. Your God was a petulant whiner, but he was a funny petulant whiner and in a comedy show that's all that matters. It's about time God put that whiney-ass Margaret in her place.

Amos Vanderpoel - You were the other scene-stealer. Your portrayal of Adam was right on the money and as fearless as Sorman with the exposure of the body. Your later portrayal of the fish-alien (yes, I said fish-alien, you really had to be there) was just as exposing. Do you ever portray a character who isn't nearly nude? You managed to make each character funny in addition to nearly naked, which is a difficult thing to do.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Even the opening musical act, Maq, was quite good. I laughed throughout, applauded when necessary, and never found myself bored. I do wish the grandpa character had stayed in, but I do understand the need to cut him and hope he returns again next year just so I can hear Nic do that voice again.

Finally, thanks for the John 3:16 sign. I think I need to keep that somewhere. Of course, I could just write it in black marker on a piece of cardboard myself and SAY it was the one from the show, but I prefer the real thing.

"God? Dammit!" was a good time. It was very funny. It was well-acted. I hope that TCT comes back next year and skewers some more sacred cows. Maybe something set in a certain local suburban newspaper might be in order?