With one night left before the end of the TBS Just for Laughs Festival, I decided to check out the Chicago Playground after reading about Sean Flannery’s “Never Been to Paris”. In doing some background on Sean Flannery I saw that he also does movie reviews without even seeing the film. That in itself was a funny enough concept for me to investigate this comedian further. So I hopped on the Red Line, got off at Belmont and walked over to Halsted and found 3209 North.
I hadn’t been to the Chicago Playground before, but now, after experiencing a comedy show there, can say what a great little venue it is – cozy, urban and friendly would be good adjectives to use. Before the show began, I was approached by a TBS hire who had asked me if I had seen Sean Flannery’s show prior. When I answered that I had not, she told me that Sean’s show was one of the funniest performances of the entire festival period – and this is coming from someone who had seen most of the big ticket shows in the week-long line up. She was right – I laughed my ass off from beginning to end, the kind of laughing that evokes tears and cramping below the rib cage.
Sean Flannery’s “Never Been to Paris” is based on the twelve or so times when the comedian had almost killed himself. With the help of animated slides, hilarious delivery and one outrageous story after another, “Never Been to Paris” is one of the most original and funny shows that I have ever come across.
From walking of a rooftop (WALKING off a rooftop – not falling from) to electrocuting himself unconscious at a job interview by licking a monster battery, Flannery explains each story in comical, side-splitting detail, barely giving the audience enough time to recover from the last big laugh. “Never Been to Paris” is a true madcap adventure filled with nonsensical judgment and uproarious scenarios that throws all caution to the wind – literally.
Hysterically brilliant!
I highly recommend you catch this comedian when you can.
For more information and show dates, visit http://www.worldsdumbestman.com/.
