metropolisnews

Comedy Trio to Bring Sharp Wit, Humor to Metropolis

Daily Herald
By Eileen O. Daday | Daily Herald Correspondent

Posted Sunday, February 11, 2007

The old newspaper adage, “If It Bleeds, It Leads,” takes on new meaning at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in downtown Arlington Heights.

In this case, a trio of comediennes — who call themselves the Triplettes — have adopted the phrase to capture the driving pace of their late night comedy show, which opened recently.

The show is the latest in the After Dark Comedy Series, taking place at 10 p.m. Saturdays through March 10. Tickets are $15. Metropolis officials stress that the show is rated “R” for adult content, and anyone under 17 must be accompanied by an adult.

“When we created the After Dark Series last year we were really going after the twenty-something market,” said Tim Rater, Metropolis executive director. “With all the different restaurants and bars in downtown Arlington Heights, we felt a 10 p.m. show on a Saturday night with edgier material was a natural fit.

“We found out we were right — sort of,” Rater added. “The After Dark Series does draw the twenty-something crowd, but it also has a strong following with patrons of all ages all the way into their 60s, which is fantastic.”

The Triplettes include Northwestern University alumnae Rebecca Fox, Heather Simms and Laura Grey, all of Chicago.

“It’s sketch comedy, so the scenes tend to be thematic,” Simms said. “They are all pretty much driven by ideas we got from the media and from consumerism. It opens with a sketch about the news and takes off from there.”

Another sketch comedy group from Chicago will open the show. “Money in the Pants” features an ensemble of Second City conservatory alumni, who mix improv with music and dance.

Members include Ryan Bernier, Ian Bonner, Tyler Dean, Lauren McCarthy, Damian Vanore and Dominica Wasilewska.

The Triplettes all met while taking classes in Northwestern’s theater department, and before long they formed an improv comedy troupe. Since taking their act on the road to clubs in Chicago and festivals across the country, they have found a niche for their fast-paced comedy revue, described as “ferocious” on their Web site.

They have played the likes of Second City and the Upright Citizens’ Brigade Theater, to name a few, as well as a sampling of Midwestern campuses, on their college tour.

“I think it works because it’s intelligent humor. We don’t dumb it down for our audience,” Simms said. “In fact, we enjoy playing to the intelligence of our audiences.”

Simms and Grey do most of the team’s writing. They bring different strengths to the process, from Grey’s clown background and preference for wackier, physical humor to Simms’ more linear scenes, sketched to include a beginning, middle and ending.

Grey splits her time between appearing with Triplettes in their comedy gigs, while appearing as a member of Second City’s improvisational touring company, while Simms and Fox both work as art educators, by day.

“In the beginning we were all the token females in other people’s groups,” Simms said. “Then we thought it would be fun for the three of us to do all the roles ourselves.”

Triplette at Metropolis
Saturdays at 10 p.m. through March 11
More info here

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