Veronica Appia
Editor-in-Chief
The Second City Toronto is tooting its own horn and it can be heard all throughout the city.
With little technology gags and lots of Torontonian pride, Second City’s The Hotline Always Blings Twice strings together a series of sketches that makes us simultaneously laugh and boast about ourselves because, quite frankly, we can.
A lot has gone on here over the past year. Our beloved Blue Jays clinched a playoff spot, we welcomed in thousands of Syrian refugees, we have a handsome new PM with some interesting political strategies, and the list goes on.
These milestones, if you will, are not lost on the Second City troupe, who turns each hot topic into an absurd riot to be laughed at.
This show, however, has virtually nothing to do with Drake, though from the title it’s easy to assume the sketches may be part of a roast fest at his expense. The title is also a play on words from the 1940s drama The Postman Always Rings Twice. Drama and Drake could have been taken down a completely different path.
Rather, when it comes to Drake, Second City's all about adoration. After all, the man was just voted as one of the most influential people on the internet. #represent
In a sketch commenting on the cringe-worthiness of a possible future with President Trump, performer Etan Muskat discusses building a wall to prevent Americans from flocking to Canada, with the intention of doing it during a Raptors game, to keep Drake in the country and keep Bieber out.
In another hilarious sketch, Kevin Whalen and Kirsten Rasmussen play father-daughter bandwagonners at a Jays game. When called out for their bandwagonning ways by a bitter, moustached Kyle Dooley, Whalen gets him back with a preposterous sob story that has him reeling with regret.
Perhaps one of my favourite sketches of the night is performed in a ridiculous film noir style, where Leigh Cameron plays a woman who calls both Uber (Kyle Dooley) and Beck (Kevin Whalen) to pick her up for the evening. A fight ensues, as each driver argues why she should choose him.
The troupe pulls through without a hitch for the entire show, delivering strong, memorable performances. For an evening of blue and white bragging and laughable local politics, this show’s got you covered.
The Hotline Always Blings Twice plays at The Second City Toronto until July 3. For more information visit www.secondcity.com.
Cast: Leigh Cameron, Kyle Dooley, Becky Johnson, Etan Muskat, Kirsten Rasmussen, Kevin Whalen