The first line in Factory Theater’s “Toast of the Town” goes something like this: “David Schwimmer loved `500 Clown Frankenstein’ so you know it’s good,” a tongue-in-cheeker sure to prompt a smirk or two from Chicago theater scenesters.
But even occasional playgoers will find much to appreciate in this gloriously, uproariously skewering of all things theater by co-writers Ernest Deak and Scott Oken. Imagine “Noises Off” on crack. Imagine Saturday morning cartoons on crack. This is cheap, loud, infantile, laugh-despite-your-better-instincts comedy.
Goldie McJohn (Mike Beyer) is a struggling playwright whose career is given a boost when the prestigious Lawdy Mama Theater Company (“We’re near the lake! We sell out!”) agrees to stage his play. Chaos ensues when rival playwright Roy (Manny Tamayo) attempts to sabotage the project.
A generous number of laughs here are of the non sequitur variety. Bob Hope strolls onto the stage every now and again for no apparent reason. Same with Kevin Costner’s “I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses” speech from “Bull Durham,” which gets a tweaking. There’s even an entire character who might as well be dubbed Non Sequitur Man: theater manager Commissioner Thurston DeBladderhorn, goofily played by Anthony Tournis channeling Steve Carrell.
The cast here is huge, 18 in all, and the pace is frenetic under Nick Digilio’s why-say-it-when-you-can-scream-it direction. Your throat feels sore for these folks by the end, but no one seems the worse for wear. And if you ever wanted to see a live-action quadruple-take, complete with the lip-flapping burlbeblah burlbeblah sound effect, this is your show.
Through May 8 at Prop Thtr, 3504 N. Elston Ave.; 312-409-3247.
Jimmy Binns, who helped create the long-running improv comedy “Flanagan’s Wake,” hasn’t been much of a presence in off-Loop theater since the demise of the Noble Fool’s Randolph Street location last year. His latest effort is as director of “BrouHaHa: Of Course You Know This Means War!,” a wildly uneven sketch comedy revue that is not without sparks of potential.
Focusing on the so-called culture wars, this late-night offering has its excruciating bits. The long, long, long song about SpongeBob SquarePants has got to go. Same with a weird nudie moment at the end that comes out of left field.
But the show is just as often amusingly droll, as when Annie Rubino pulls on a George W. Bush mask and tap-dances her way through a routine.
It’s just loopy enough to work.
Open-ended run at the Bailiwick Arts Center, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.; 773-883-1090.
