Tomato/Tomatoe, a two actor/multi-character show created by two Second City training alumnus is a semi-improvised live sitcom and is airing the fourth episode through January at (shhhhhhh) The Annoyance Theatre in Chicago, IL. Despite the venue not being the Second City – this near perfect execution of a send-up of the sitcom is hilarious and is not to be missed. Don’t worry if you’re like me and you missed the first three episodes – they catch you up.
Deceptively simple in its presentation, Tomato/Tomatoe stars Kevin Miller and Sherman Edwards and is directed by Neal Sachman. This is the fourth “episode” of the hour-long sitcom from the comedy team titled “The Rift”. The three previous episodes are “The Pilot Episode”, “The Very Special Episode”, and “The Amnesia Episode.” The three previous episodes were produced for Donny’s Skybox at The Second City in Chicago, IL.
Tomato/Tomatoe starts with instructions from the audience. Aside from the usual - where the exits are and please turn your phone off (seriously? You still need to be told that?) – the audience is encouraged to basically be the “laugh track” of the live sitcom. The audience applauds when new characters (all played by either Miller or Edwards) enter, a catch phrase is dropped or the applause sign goes on – it can be that simple. The audience is the 3rd (or 4th or 5th) character in this sitcom that clearly takes glee from brilliantly deconstructing the traditional ½ show and making each episode actually both fun and funny.
“We want to follow the sitcom archetype(s) as we create each episode,” Sachman explains, “it’s a constant evolution.”
The duo has known each other since completing the Conservatory Program at The Second City in Chicago, IL. Edwards describes, “we were both in different classes, but we liked each other’s work and after our final shows we met and decided to work together.” The at times brilliant satire shows off what 
can occur when great actors meet great training from the Second City Training Center. While the actors do follow most of the Second City “rules” – they also break a few, which is refreshing and ads to the general fun of the satire.
Sachman is relatively new to the group, but not to the love of improv. Miller and Edwards take a few shots at him at the end of the show, smashing what is left of the fourth wall.
The lead characters are “heightened versions of ourselves,” Miller explains. Playing the characters is fun for both Miller and Edwards as they can go outside of the comfort zone to make fun of themselves and each other. “We’ve known each other for years,” Edwards adds, so they are comfortable with highlighting their own personality ticks or playing with the other’s personality as well.
“The Rift”, which focuses on the “fight episode” of the sitcom archetype, is full of both quietly delicate funny moments combined with moments of huge physical comedy. A balance is struck that allows for good acting, great comedy and wonderful character work that is rarely seen in a two person show.
Each episode evolves as it plays in front of the audience. If a bit is working well it may be heightened or explored further. If something that worked earlier is not – it can be changed on the fly. In these days of DVRs and shows on the Internet it’s rare that there is actually something like a sitcom – although far, far funnier – that can be appointment viewing.
“If people want to make Sunday night our appointment viewing time, that’s fine with us,” says Edwards.
The latest episode plays at The Annoyance Theatre through the 31st of January. This weekend looks packed, so get yourself tuned in as soon as you can.
There is no permanent home yet for Tomato/Tomatoe. But it has played at two of the best places for improv in the city – The Second City and The Annoyance. Where the next episode will take place is still undecided.
Have fun and don’t forget to tip your bartender! (I mean, seriously, you have GOT to love a place that still serves PBR in a can! – no offense Second City bar!)
If you’d like to see where Miller and Edwards (sure to be fixtures on the Chicago comedy scene for years) were trained, then attend one of the student shows on Monday nights at The Second City E.T.C. theatre.
To register or for more information on the Training Center please:
• Call us: 312-664-3959
• Come see us in person: 1608 N. Wells, 4th floor
• Visit us here
Comments
go speedie go....
this show is amazing. i'm glad so much good press is going their way. way to go.
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