Steadstyle Chicago
	February 2009 Theatre Review by Venus Zarris
	Rod Blagojevich Superstar! I have to say that I was tired of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's combination of 'hubris meets dumb ass' by the time he finished his first term election acceptance speech in 2002, so you can only imagine the exhaustion his current media blitz has caused me.  Up until tonight I have actually hated the fact that such an arrogant idiot could garner so much attention.  "As governors go, you make Palin look good"...cast.  But I am renewed.  I now adore Rod for inspiring Second City Theatricals' world premiere of "Rod Blagojevich Superstar!", a show which proves that tragedy and corruption exist for a very good reason.  That is, so that we can laugh.  "There was a time in this country when the bribe of a woman or person-of-color wasn't taken seriously.  But that's not the case with my administration"...Rod B. Since the current Illinois gubernatorial scandal broke I have received several calls and e-mails from out of town friends asking, 'How can you live in a state that is so corrupt?'  Second City answers this question for me with a show that is so hysterical it begs the question, 'How can non-Illinoisans live in states that are so Not Funny?'  "Since when has breaking a few laws been illegal?"...Rod B.   It is the ever-fresh crops of brilliant wit and humor that keep us going through the long hard winters and seemingly endless mind numbing political fraud.  No one can kick their own ass, after having their ass kicked by someone else, and love the pain in the ass brought on by the the non-stop ass kicking like Chicago can!  And "Rod Blagojevich Superstar!" is a smash hit spanking that you don't want to miss! Far from the anticipated string of bad hair jokes (I really thought this was going to be an extended Empire Carpet commercial), "Rod Blagojevich Superstar!" is the best actual storytelling script and perhaps the funniest show that I have seen to date on the Second City stage.  Every joke hits you like a customized spit-take headline from the best of the Onion.  Writers Ed Furman (book) and T. J. Shanhoff (music and lyrics) rip off recognizable riffs from musicals ("Jesus Christ Superstar," "Pippin," "Godspell," and "The Wiz") as much as Rod picked the proverbial pocket of Illinois.  They delightfully chronicle the rise and fall of this powerful political clown and his unapologetically foul-mouthed wife while highlighting the infamous 'Chicago Machine' that enabled his success. The 'scrappy' cast is a little rough around the edges but all is forgiven as the timeliness of this 'expiration dated' material demands that it hit the boards ASAP.  And what the truly loveable ensemble lacks in singing chops and perfectly polished scenes, they more than make up for with enthusiasm, subtle charm and explosively hysterical comic timing.  Lori McClain is particularly sidesplitting as Patti Blagojevich.  In 1906, Upton Sinclair spotlighted Chicago depravity in his scathingly devastating novel "The Jungle".  In 2009, Second City has a better way of exposing and processing corruption. As the crass Patti Blagojevich might very well be taped saying, 'Fuck your crybaby shit Upton!  We want to laugh!' Second City's "Rod Blagojevich Superstar!" takes Illinois' 'laughing stock of the country' status and weaves comedy gold.  It also joyously proves that scathingly hysterical political satire did not die when George W. and Laura Bush boarded the plane for Texas on January 20, 2009.  Catch "Rod Blagojevich Superstar!" while it's fresh and hot. Following its run on North Wells, Second City's smash hit, "Rod Blagojevich Superstar" moves to Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier for a limited six-week engagement.  The show will play in a cabaret-style setting in which audience members can enjoy drinks Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare. At CST, the production will feature new music and frequent updates—incorporating Blagojevich’s brother, his $100,000 book deal and Roland Burris’s son as the Illinois political saga continues to unfold. Following each performance, the cast will improvise a 20-minute political comedy set based on audience suggestions. "Rod Blagojevich Superstar" has been extended through September 6, 2009, Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare. Performance dates are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 3:00pm, 7:00pm and 9:30pm and Sundays at 3:00pm. Tickets are $25 ($20 for groups of 10 or more) and may be purchased by visiting Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s website at www.chicagoshakes.com or calling the CST Box Office at 312.595.5600.   About Venus Zarris Venus Zarris is the Editor and Chief Writer for ChicagoStageReview.com. She is a feature writer and theater critic for Gay Chicago Magazine, as well as other print and on-line publications. Her writing has been featured at colleges and universities in Illinois and Michigan and on National Public Radio. Venus's photography and writing is on permanent collection at the New York Historical Society and the Library of Congress.  Steadstyle Chicago is proud to welcome Venus' intelligent, witty and provocative writing to our site.