Something Wonderful: An Oral History of the Second City & the Compass Players

by Jeffrey Sweet

(Limelight). Prominent alumni (Mike Nichols, Joan Rivers, Robert Klein, among others) bring theatrical improvisation to life, with all the vitality, the power and the exuberance the satire and spontaneity that they made famous and that launched their careers. "An important book about the most important American theatrical endeavor since the Group Theatre. Plus, it's fun to read." David Mamet

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Biography, Comedy, Theatre

1 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Dan Lalande · Rating 3 out of 5]

It purports to be an oral history of the Second City, the small-time "peoples' theatre" that grew into an improvisational comedy institute, but this mile-high pile of interviews with distinguished alumni 1955-1978 is more interested in their quirks, clashes and camaraderie than the company's chronology or creed. It's big-cast backstage soap ; small wonder Sweet became a playwright.

[Tom Matthews · Rating 3 out of 5]

More reading for an idea I am developing concerning Second City, American comedy and a tragic figure who emerged from this backdrop.

The book very much is about the earliest days of Second City and Compass Players; published in 1978, it squeezes an interview with Gilda Radner in at the very end, but otherwise these still-interesting interviews pre-date SNL, SCTV and all the comedy legends that emerged from that little theater in Chicago.

[Heather Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the history of theater and the stories in this book but it was a tough read for me as a first person narrative. I put it down often, but managed to finish it.

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess it was a good idea for someone to document the origins of improvisational theatre; but I was expecting more than this. It is a collection of interviews with the earlier members if the improv community in Chicago. What was lacking was an explanation for the huge success this type of comedy experienced. I suppose SNL helped a lot. But what were the social conditions that helped spawn this success.
What is missing is an external analysis of the improv phenomenon and some of the influence it had on popular culture.
Much of the material is now dated but a little more penetrating insight into techniques and strategies employed in bringing the product to life would have been interesting.

[David Wolinsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful though sadly dated oral history of The Second City and its many forefather satellite theaters. Gilda Radner is the most recent alumn featured in the book, and many of the other people talked to boast credits that don't exactly rate nowadays. My favorite was someone who was cited as "loudly eating potato chips in a TV commercial." Nevertheless, it's interesting to see everyone's perspective on the pressures, jerky peers, and the distinct ways EVERYONE hated Bernie Sahlins. Someone should really do a follow-up to cover the next 30 or so years... I fantasize it'll be me someday.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

P 368 - Gilda Radner

If I have become popular because I do an imitation of Barbara Walters, it’s because Barbara Walters has become popular. I say thank you to her. She’s made somebody worth parodying. I couldn’t get laughs if she hadn’t gotten into the news. So, things are changing. I actually believe there is going to be a turnover in comedy, that you’re going to see a larger number of women comics. Because women are where the social action is, and wherever the social action is is where the comedy is going to be.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a subject area with such opportunities for joy and humor, this book was a grind

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zzzz through some, !!!! through others

[UChicagoLaw]

I have been reading on the history of improvisational comedy, which started in the U.S. in Hyde Park at The University in the mid-1950s. Sweet’s book consists of interviews with key participants in that era, including the Law School’s own Roger Bowen, who went on to an acting and writing career in Hollywood (Bowen played Lt. Col. Henry Blake in the 1970 film version of M*A*S*H). Unsurprisingly, there is overlap between this book and the two other improv history books that I have plugged in prior years (Janet Coleman’s The Compass and the much more recent Improv Nation by Saw Wasson), but the virtue of Sweet’s book is that you hear directly from the participants who created The Compass Players and The Second City. - Randal C. Picker