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Adults consists of comedy sketches based on the theme of maturing. It pokes fun of the responsibilities and changes that come with adulthood. Some of sketches stray from this theme, and some are stronger than others (the same goes for the actors), but overall it is smartly written.

The opening sequence introduces the seven members of the group, The Sixth Borough, in a song and dance that informs the audience that they are “adults now”. The group is named such because they have all chosen to stay in Philadelphia “rather than ship off to NYC or LA like every other goddamn person these days.” Some of the skits refer to Philadelphia familiarities, which arouses giggles from the audience- since, you know, we live here and all- so we can relate.

The first skit, a good introduction to the theme finds three ‘adults’ in a restaurant thanking Facebook and Myspace for allowing them to be able to meet again. They are joined by a fourth who they, to his confusion, start asking about his yearly stats. The joke: he wanted to be a football player when he was a kid and of course we all grow up to be what we want to be. Well these three did as they have become and astronaut, a ballerina, and yes- a princess.

The second sketch wasn’t one of my favorites, but it was a crowd pleaser- let’s just say that stuffy academic British gentlemen have dirty sex fantasies about strippers too. The third skit I appreciated, because I’ve been accosted one too many times by squeaky college do-gooders trying to make me save the children whilst I am merely trying to lock my bike up. A doctor is out for a jog when such a squeaky person harasses him to donate to a million different causes. The causes are funny because they are outrageous, but the one he settles for is of course the most meaningless of them all- manatees. I thought it witty…

The next few pieces include a corrupt parishioner looking for easy money from people’s dirty little secrets, aging women with vagina problems, overly fertile prairie dwellers whose children keep dying, and a rich Italian coming to terms with the fact that he has never seen “The Godfather”. But my favorite skit by far was the second to the last. A troubled teen screws up at school again, and is punished to his room to catch up on his summer reading. The book he pulls out is “The Outsiders”, which of course he hates. I don’t want to give it away, but the skit plays on the fact that anyone who went to high school in the past-I don’t know -30 years, can identify with certain novels about troubled youth. What we are supposed to get from these novels is perhaps that our lives aren’t so bad, so we should stop our sixteen year old whining. In this skit, these characters come to life and hilariously convince this angsty teenager to do just that.

The last skit reminds us of the American dream- revamped “”because, hey if you’re white you can buy a Mexican to take care of your dirty work. I personally am sensitive to this subject, but it’s well done- and, hey it’s comedy- if it wasn’t a little offensive then let’s face it- it wouldn’t be funny. Go watch it- it’s comedy- it’s funny- and laughing is good for you.

Adults
Friday 9/14 and Saturday 9/15 @ 9:00PM
9pm at Connie’s Ric Rac

Connie’s Ric Rac
1132 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 279-7587
Philly Fringe: Adults
Connie’s Ric Rac online
Connie’s Ric Rac @ Myspace

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