Ryan Kenney

Writing Comic Scenes

Instructor: Jen Ellison

11 February 2015

Archive Assignment #2: Take Me Out To The Balkans

Take Me Out to the Balkans is a strange show. Im not saying its a bad show. Its just a weird show. It is very positive and connects with its audience in an extremely up with people tone. There really is no anger in this show or any scenes that I could connect with to write about. Although, the cast that is featured in this review is very good. Stephen Colbert, Amy Seders, Paul Dinello, and Steve Carrell basically helm the entire revue featuring, Fran Adams, Ruth Rudnick, and David Razowsky. Amy Seders is by far the most interesting member of the ensemble. She is the most used female performer of the entire show and is featured heavily as the female lead, or even just the lead in many scenes. The reason I chose to follow her is only because she is the only person on stage who goes through any physical or vocal change, actual characters are formed by her. Perhaps the worst thing about Sedaris contribution is that sometimes she is used to come in and be the funny one and entering the scene for a final laugh. I dont want to say that the show used Sedaris talent as a crutch for some pleasant scenes, but they kind of did. Most of Sedaris roles in the show are fully fledged characters, even the small bit parts, she always attaches some crazy body and vocal element to her parts, which of course is featured in all her work to come after her Second City days. One scene in particular that she has a featured and extremely rewarding moment in a scene entitled, Peak Earning Potential. It features Colbert and Dinello as two brothers pretending they are part of the Chicago Bulls. Its a brilliant take on the staging of the documentary, Hoop Dreams. As the basketball portion of the scene is dropped, the brothers begin to fight about how different they are. As the fight grows, their mother enters and screams at them. Sedaris enters the scene and has completely embodied Bette Davis in a Grand Dame Guignol style. Its grotesque and overtop. In any other scene this portal would seem gratuitous and unwanted. The scene needs her to break the tension, but for some reason, Sedaris character is so believable in the world that it is totally acceptable. Another scene that works in favor of Sedaris, features her and David Razowsky on a first date as they change shirts with different social slangs on them. Seders uses this opportunity to be a real human being. Seders is a bit overused in the show, but her roles and presence are so enjoyable that sometimes it elevates the material of Take Me Out to the Balkans to better heights.