One exercise at Second City`s improvisation comedy workshops involves establishing the ”Who, What and Where” of a character and situation, usually within the first few minutes of that routine.
”But by the end of my scenes, my instructor was just going, `Why?`
” says Poppy Champlin. ”I said hey, that`s not a question we have to answer.”
Champlin, a native of Providence, R.I., who has been a standup since 1982, came to Chicago 2 1/2 years ago to study for a year with the famed comedy troupe. When it came to the ”Who, What and Where” exercises, she admits that she had some ”really bizarre” characters.
Once Poppy and her partner portrayed homeless characters who ”kinda take captive of these two rich Jewish people. And we made them buy our velvet paintings.”
Why?
”We really didn`t know why, but we knew our who and what and where,”
answers Champlin. ”I think they`re adding a new rule now that I`ve left.”
Performing in a school setting is a natural for Champlin, the headliner this weekend at the Last Laff-Rosemont, 6350 N. River Rd. in Rosemont
(708-823-5233). She says that her debut was in grammar school.
”Show and tell in the 1st grade, that was my first gig,” she says.
”Except bombing was not cool. People going, `Boo, you stink. . . ,` and that was the teacher.”
Valdez`s Traveling Comedy Cavalcade
”I enjoy doing standup, but I also enjoy writing and performing sketch humor,” says Jeff Valdez. ”People don`t realize that a lot of comics have a lot of different facets to them.”
This is one reason that Valdez is bringing a comedy revue to the Funny Firm (318 W. Grand Ave.; 321-9500) next Tuesday. He figures the set will include about 15 sketches, improvisational routines and standup comedy in a 90-minute show. And Valdez says it changes every night.
”This is just my way, and the other guys` way, of having fun,” explains Valdez. He, along with Gary Wilson and Matt Morris, have been performing the revue together ”off and on” for about a year.
The sketches include something called ”Perry`s Pork Palace,”
”Jehovah`s Comics,” and a future-type sketch on censorship. Plus, there`ll be special appearences by O.P. Micer, the hopelessly nervous amature standup (O.P. Micer? Open-miker? Get it?).
”It is a relatively new show. It`s a new concept and there is nobody else on the road doing it, including Second City,” Valdez says.
”A lot of people can`t afford to bring the entire show in because it`s expensive, it`s a lot of work putting it together. And a lot of people don`t yet have the foresight that people like the Funny Firm do to take chances on a show like this.”
The standup lineup
Here`s who`s working at the comedy clubs. Current sets are scheduled to run through Sunday; all new acts begin on Tuesday unless otherwise noted. Lineups are subject to change.
Catch a Rising Star (151 E. Wacker Dr.; 565-HAHA): Mario Joyner, host of MTV`s ”Half-Hour Comedy Hour,” is wrapping up his debut week here this Sunday. The political musings of Lew Black will begin on Tuesday.
Chicago Improv (504 N. Wells St.; call STAND-UP): Rondell Sheridan, who has appeared on ”The Tonight Show,” is headlining through Sunday. Popping in with his bag of tricks and parakeet on Tuesday is magician Paul Kozak.
Funny Bone (1725 Algonquin Rd., Schaumburg; 708-303-5700): Chicago native Mark Roberts is starring this weekend. Another former Chicagoan, Margaret Smith, is heading out to the `Bone starting on Wednesday.
Zanies (1548 N. Wells St.; 337-4027): Chicago`s Anthony Griffin, the top act this weekend, is a busy guy. His second appearance on ”The Tonight Show” is scheduled for Halloween. He`s also set for at least three episodes of Ryan O`Neal and Farrah Fawcett`s upcoming network situation comedy, which is slated as a midseason replacement. Meanwhile, Brian Schmidt is set to star at Zanies beginning on Tuesday.
And . . . A bunch of area comics are staging a benefit for the Greater Chicago Council of the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse. It`s happening at 6 p.m. Nov. 5 in the Park West. Those set to perform include John Riggi, Steve Kelley, Mike Toomey and Bill Leff. Tickets, costing $50, are available at all Ticketmaster locations or by phone, 559-1212. For more information call 663-3520.
Here`s a Merit Comedy update: comics Dana Gould and Warren Hutcherson will compete in this leg of the national standup contest`s semifinals Nov. 3 in the Vic Theatre, with host Dana Carvey of ”Saturday Night Live.” One of the following acts from Chicago may also appear (it hasn`t been determined as of this writing): Bill Leff, Stew Oleson, comedy duo SRO and John Tambirino. Tickets are available at the Vic, Ticketmaster outlets or by phone, 902-1500. Comic-magicians Penn & Teller bring their ”Refrigerator Tour” to the Chicago Theatre beginning Monday. Get yer duckets at the theater, Ticketmaster hangouts or phone, 559-1212.
