Saturday before last saw the opening of "Wii the People" at Donny's Skybox at Second City, and The Bastion was fortunate enough to be there.

"Wii the People" is the latest revue from the Second City Outreach and Diversity Ensemble, Brownco. On the whole, it's a well-paced, funny (at times hilarious) concoction of sketches and improv put off by a fun and entirely likable group. From the opening musical piece, "Ambiguously Ethnic", to the closing improv, based on the life of an audience member, the laughs were abundant. Topics ranged from Iraqi comedy clubs to a poetry slam to a handyman with a cure for all problems, interspersed with a number of songs with scene changes punctuated by well-chosen hip-hop excerpts.

Standout sketches include a string of horribly politically incorrect racial jokes designed to make the audience simultaneously laugh and squirm, a game of Win, Lose, or Draw from hell, and a fantastic Abbot-and-Costello-esque discussion of the border fence.

On the whole, this was an entirely enjoyable way to spend an hour, and certainly worth the $12 ticket price. The only suggestions we'd have for the production is for the performers to project a little more -- at times the musical accompaniment too easily dominated. But we're sure this is just an opening night glitch.

"Wii The People" (and, yes, there's an obligatory string of Wii puns) runs every Saturday at 9:00 PM in Donny's Skybox until December 8. Tickets can be purchased here. It's performed by Mike Abdelsayed, Frankie Benavides, Elana Elyce, Sherman Edwards, Jamella Sheelo, and Ariel Coleman-Turner. It's directed by John Hildreth, with music direction by Matt Griffo.

-Craig Stacey

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There is a new trend in the Chicago sketch scene: corny, tongue in cheek, subtly dirty musical comedies. Unlike the breed of self important Broadway musicals, these shows have the feeling of a sketch show where the best characters and bits just happen to keep coming back in song.

Listen Kid, by Improv Olympic alum and current Colbert Report writer Peter Gwinn, is a hilarious show that aims to teach lessons to children that their parents wouldn't have the balls to tackle.

That said, do not bring your kids, but do keep an open mind to their advice: everyone could probably stand to hear a song about the fact (yes, FACT) that having a friend with benefits will eventually go awry.

Listen Kid stars seven Chicago improvisers (members of Merman, DSI's The Beatbox, and Baby Wants Candy, to name a few) who can actually sing, and is directed by Rich Prouty. It is running Thursdays at 8 through December 21 at the Del Close Theater at i.O.

Band Geeks: A Halftime Musical features the impressive geometric choreography of the 1989 Elyria Pioneer Marching Band. The book was written by Amy Petersen and Becky Eldridge, two "band fags" who happened to march together in real life for their high school band, also called the Elyria Pioneer Marching Band, also circa 1989. Andy Eninger, of GayCo productions, directs the show.

After a successful run at the New York Fringe Festival in August, the band has returned to Chicago. Thank god, because these characters are worth seeing. Particularly a goth girl and her Ouija Board...and a Mennonite flautist...and a knocked up majorette. Basically everyone whom, in retrospect, you wish you could have been friends with in high school.

Time Out Chicago described Band Geeks as "convulsively funny" and the Chicago Tribune noted "it's no wonder this show has become a late-night hit." Go see it! And be ready to convulse at the funny.

Band Geeks runs Fridays and Saturdays at 11:30 pm through November 4 at Theatre Building Chicago.

-Mackenzie Condon

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We finally got a chance to chit-chat with Emily Dorezas, Executive Awesome, at the Mix Monday open mic night before last. Albeit a fairly brief conversation, it was a better one than we've had thus far, as our usual meetings happen at parties or afterhours bars where nothing but nonsense ever gets accomplished.

Emily caught us up to speed on what her group, Baby Wants Candy, is up to, including a stint in NYC as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival, which they're leaving for tomorrow. They're also planning to hit up the UCBT while they're out there, taking full advantage of their time in the Apple. There's another fairly big thing in the works for the group, but we've been sworn to secrecy (for now), but Em promised us a scoop-tastic chance in the near future, so we'll take it.

She also updated us on how Sports Action Team is going (well, with a primetime slot on the West Coast and a very good reception by audience and critics) and chatted with us about some potential new collaborative projects.

For your amusement, some Tubeage of an old i.O. skit with Jason Fever, Shawn Cole, and friends.

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The Cupid Players entertained The Bastion Saturday night at i.O. with their musical sketch production of "Cupid Has a Heart On - a Musical Guide to Relationships."

Their several years together have created a smooth flow as they go from sharply-written song to song, lamenting the pains and strains of modern romance. Ever feel bad about the 'I only call you when I'm horny and lonely" friend you keep on speed-dial? Laugh away your guilt with troupe members dancing around in giant foam beer cans.

The Cupid Players have performed across the country, in sketchfests from New York to San Francisco, and are as happy to dance around a t.p. maypole as remind us all of the heart-stomping effects of a sweetly delivered "I like you, but I don't like you like you."

-Elizabeth McQuern

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