Chicago improv group does a laid-back holiday show on Zoom, raises money
December 21, 2020 9:05 PM Subscribe
Holidays from Hell might become a tradition in our household. The improv group Devil's Daughter (a leading Harold team of the recently-closed IO theater - they used to perform every Friday night) has stuck together after the pandemic and the closure of its host theater, funneled money to causes they care about, and put together this mostly-scripted, laid-back show by livestreaming together for about an hour.
Watching it can feel like being at a really amazing party where nobody expects you to talk to anybody, but you get to be in the middle of a bunch of affectionate friends who happen to be talented and kind of twisted.
I think the first "song" was my favorite part, but the show includes a New Year's Resolution monologue that was inspiring in a "why not" way, a sort-of ASMR / experience guided experience that included a character called Uncanny Valley Tom Hanks, inventive storytelling, a holiday art demonstration, and a 3-minute explanation of Hanukkah that really only talked about Hanukkah for about two sentences. Plus a guest video by a member of Matt Damon Improv starring three stuffed animals in the shortest Lifetime Christmas Movie you've ever seen.
There is a long period at the start with nothing happening, so the link starts almost 9 minutes in. If you want a little anticipation and a single holiday song to get you in the mood, start here.
Recommended viewing: with a friend, maybe with both of you watching remotely and texting back and forth, or with breaks after each performance to chat and get snacks.
(If you're moved to donate, the cause they're supporting here is The Night Ministry, a Chicago non-profit organization that compassionately provides housing, health care, outreach, spiritual care, and social services to adults and youth who struggle with homelessness, poverty, and loneliness. There's a donation link from the show video, but I'm not sure how long it will be active).
(Devil's Daughter also does podcasts and has a Patreon page.)
Oh also / trigger warning: There is considerable alcohol consumption incorporated into some of the proceedings, including the host being urged/obligated to drink at certain points in the fund-raising (her idea, not coercive).
Not really advised for young children, I think, but I hope someone who isn't easily offended will watch and provide more guidance for more sensitive people.
Watching it can feel like being at a really amazing party where nobody expects you to talk to anybody, but you get to be in the middle of a bunch of affectionate friends who happen to be talented and kind of twisted.
I think the first "song" was my favorite part, but the show includes a New Year's Resolution monologue that was inspiring in a "why not" way, a sort-of ASMR / experience guided experience that included a character called Uncanny Valley Tom Hanks, inventive storytelling, a holiday art demonstration, and a 3-minute explanation of Hanukkah that really only talked about Hanukkah for about two sentences. Plus a guest video by a member of Matt Damon Improv starring three stuffed animals in the shortest Lifetime Christmas Movie you've ever seen.
There is a long period at the start with nothing happening, so the link starts almost 9 minutes in. If you want a little anticipation and a single holiday song to get you in the mood, start here.
Recommended viewing: with a friend, maybe with both of you watching remotely and texting back and forth, or with breaks after each performance to chat and get snacks.
(If you're moved to donate, the cause they're supporting here is The Night Ministry, a Chicago non-profit organization that compassionately provides housing, health care, outreach, spiritual care, and social services to adults and youth who struggle with homelessness, poverty, and loneliness. There's a donation link from the show video, but I'm not sure how long it will be active).
(Devil's Daughter also does podcasts and has a Patreon page.)
Oh also / trigger warning: There is considerable alcohol consumption incorporated into some of the proceedings, including the host being urged/obligated to drink at certain points in the fund-raising (her idea, not coercive).
Not really advised for young children, I think, but I hope someone who isn't easily offended will watch and provide more guidance for more sensitive people.
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Thanks for the link, amtho.
....will check out their podcasts. The alcohol thing is a bit of a downer, watching people drink isn't much fun for me.
posted by storybored at 12:51 PM on December 24, 2020