Comedy Tue Oct 16 2012

Urlakis & Cusick: Questionable Lullabies is a Smart Choice

By Tyler Gillespie

On our way to Urlakis & Cusick: Questionable Lullabies -- the new duo sketch show by Dave Urlakis and Sean Cusick -- at Stage 773, my friend and I chatted about seasonal depression. The thing about fall is that it gives me this gut feeling that like an inevitable Kanye and Kim sex tape, winter is coming. I can't help it; I get SAT-nervous about cold weather and snow, because in that type of weather leaving the house always seems like the least viable option, because well, there's sleep and sleep. Fall is the time to enjoy the weather and wear sweaters and sip hot chocolate and gorge on pumpkins and not sleep for six days straight.

With the impending sleepiness of a White Christmas winter, now is the time to get out and see some shows. Yes, I'm telling you to not sleep, and go see the new show Urlakis & Cusick: Questionable Lullabies, because it's is a great place to forget about seasonal depression.

Sean Cusick and Dave Urlakis bring this hyperfocused, Adderall-type of comedy. The duo is a mixture of brainy and brash like an Honors student who goes to their first college party, gets drunk and ends up fighting the Sig Ep president. The topics they joke about might not all be your style, but they are fun to watch nevertheless, because the duo has an interesting way of pinpointing their point of view.

Duo shows are some of my favorite to watch, because the performers have to be on the whole time and committed. That's the thing I liked most about the show, the two guys went for it every time. With each sketch, they created worlds that were easy for the audience to get into and explore with them. They performed a lot of different stuff -- from political to geeky to blue -- and stayed consistent throughout, because, duh, they are both super strong comedic actors.

I'm happy this show exists, because these two are so smart about their humor and have a unique way of twisting a punch line. The show has one of my favorite sketches that I've seen recently, because the setup is so this-is-almost-making-me-feel-uncomfortable good and the twist is pretty brilliant. I'm not going to tell you the topic, because you should see it for yourself and guess which bit I'm referencing.

Even if you love the winter -- I won't judge you for that -- and think seasonal depression isn't real (it definitely is real, btw), get out of the house and go check out Urlakis & Cusick: Questionable Lullabies. The show is Fridays at 8pm from Oct. 12 through Nov 16 in the Cab at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets are $15 online or via the box office -- call 773-327-5252.

photo courtesy of Zack Whittington