Chicago Comedy

Chicago Comedy: A Fairly Serious History, by Margaret Hicks and Mick Napier, provides a comprehensive and characteristically irreverent look at the evolution of the city that became the world's most influential laboratory for sketch and improvisational theater. Published in 2011, the book traces the lineage of Chicago comedy from the early days of vaudeville and burlesque through the revolutionary founding of The Compass Players and The Second City, to the modern dominance of iO and the Annoyance Theatre.

The work is structured as a series of interconnected historical 'beats,' mirroring the fast-paced nature of the comedy it describes. The authors combine meticulous research with a 'behind-the-scenes' perspective that only insiders can provide. They examine the social and economic factors: including the city's blue-collar roots and its distance from the corporate polish of New York and Los Angeles: that allowed such a radical and risk-taking comedic voice to emerge. The book is particularly insightful in its analysis of 'The Chicago Style': the emphasis on intelligence, social satire, and ensemble connection over individual 'bits' or jokes.

The text is filled with vivid portraits of the legends who built the scene: including Paul Sills, Viola Spolin, Del Close, Bernie Sahlins, and Charna Halpern. It doesn't shy away from the 'fairly serious' aspects of the history: including the power struggles, the legendary failures, and the constant tension between pure art and commercial success. By documenting the failures as well as the triumphs, Hicks and Napier provide a gritty and authentic account of how Chicago redefined comedy for the global stage.

Chicago Comedy has been praised for its ability to be both a serious historical record and a hilariously entertaining read. Critics highlight the book's 'authentic' voice, which perfectly captures the spirit of the scene it documents. Margaret Hicks is commended for her historical rigor, while Mick Napier's contributions provide the text with its sharp, 'fairly serious' edge. It is regarded as one of the essential texts for understanding why Chicago became, and remains, the epicenter of the improvisational world.