"Kwame a River 2: The Wrath of Conyers": Theatre Critic Donald V. Calamia blogs on "The Funniest Moment of the Season so far..."

THE FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE SEASON SO FAR

There have been several very funny on-stage moments so far this theater season, but the most hysterical takes place through March 22 at The Second City-Detroit. Everyone KNEW that SOMEONE would eventually poke fun at the trials and tribulations of Detroit's now-jailed former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, but no one predicted it would happen so soon. So whether the scars have healed enough for that to happen is probably debatable, but former Detroiter and Second City alumnus Marc Warzecha has leaped in first with Kwame a River: The Chronicles of Detroit's Hip-Hop Mayor, one of the wittiest and most scathing satires to hit The Second City in years.

My review can be found here (http://www.encoremichigan.com/article.html?article=895) and John Monaghan's review can be read here (http://www.freep.com/article/20090101/ENT05/901010396/1035/ENT), so I won't go into details about the show.

However, towards the end of the performance there's a quick moment that's SO funny - and SO politically incorrect - that the audience last Friday night howled for several minutes. The cast broke up and couldn't continue the scene, and finally Connell Brown Jr. stopped and - in character as Mayor Kilpatrick - implored the audience to stop laughing. Which, of course, generated even MORE laughs.

Eavesdropping on my fellow patrons as we left the theater revealed it was the most talked-about moment of the show - and the audience favorite.

I suspect many theatergoers felt guilty laughing at such a politically incorrect moment, but not me. It was an inspired moment that challenged the audience, and it was well-conceived and excellently executed. And isn't that what great theater should be all about?

Jennifer Gale (Music Director):

Pianist, Educator, Accompanist. Ms Gale is the Owner/Director of the Mount Clemens Arts Consortium, Inc a Community-style school for the Arts. As a pianist she has performed solo concerts featuring the music of Black composers from around the world. As an educator, she has taught general music courses in public schools and for the Interlochen School of the Arts. She also maintains a studio of private piano students who compete and perform across the state. As an accompanist, she's played over 20 different musicals for community groups and schools in southeast Michigan. Musical Director for Kwame 1

Michael Pollock, Composer

Michael Pollock (composer ): Michael is musical director of The Second City Training Center Los Angeles; he studied at the University of Texas at Austin, Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts and The Grove School of Music. His credits include The Tonight Show, The Drew Carey Show, Evening at the Improv and ABC’s Emmy Award-winning Tuesdays With Morrie. He plays piano for various show at Disneyland and taught the first master class in musical direction at the Chicago Improv Festival in 2005. Learn more about Michael at www.michaelpollock.com.

Marc Warzecha (Writer/Director)

Marc Warzecha is originally from Metro Detroit, and now lives in Los Angeles where he has recently appeared on MAD TV and Reno 911. Marc served as writer/director for "Kwame a River: The Chronicles of Detorit's Hip Hop Mayor," a 2009 Wilde Award nominee for "Best New Script." He has worked with The Second City as both an actor and director; most recently directing "BarackStars" in at the Woolly Mammoth theatre in Washington, DC. Other directing credits include: "Pratfall of Civilization" (The Second City ETC - Joseph Jefferson nominee: "Best Director"). "War! Now in it's 4th Smash Year!" (Second City Chicago Mainstage- Joseph Jefferson nominee: Best Director, Best Revue, Best Ensemble), "The Not Ready for $3.99 Prime Rib Players" (Second City Las Vegas), "Woodward to your Mutha" and "Ten: The 10 year Anniersary show" (Second City Detroit). Acting credits include six resident stage reviews at the Second City Detroit, "Romeo and Juliet the Musical" at Chicago Shakespeare theatre, and SCC's "An Evening with Martin Short." Marc's work as a satirist has been featured on ABC's "Nightline", Newsweek, and in the Washington Post, and he has been a guest on CNN's "Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" and NPR's "All Things Considered." Marc is the host "No Waiting with Marc Warzecha," a live talk show that satirizes news and politics, most recently performed at the Comedy Central Stage in Hollywood. Thank you to an excellent cast and crew and to family, friends, and the theatre going community in Detroit whose support made this follow up show possible.