Each year, there are many comedy offerings at Fringe —
sketch, improv, stand-up (and yes, there’s a difference).
Thank You Kiss, which presented its hour-long show, “Careless Whispers,” at Blackfriars Theatre, is a Rochester-based sketch
comedy troupe. Whereas improv isn’t usually scripted
and stand-up often addresses the audience directly, sketch relies primarily on
scripted scenes with some improvisational elements. Because it’s 2016, TYK also
integrates video and music.
The show used comedic sketches about everything from raising
a family and squirrels running across the road to political satire and serial
killers. A few sketches even featured truly funny guest appearances by Democrat
and Chronicle reporter David Andreatta and WXXI
Connections host Evan Dawson (TYK has an in, since performer Megan Mack is
Dawson’s producer).
Sketch comedy isn’t easy — but Thank You Kiss makes it look
that way. It probably helps that TYK’s performers, Marc D’Amico, Mack, John
Forrest Thompson, and Beth Winslow, have studied or worked at comedy theaters
like iO, The Second City,
and The Annoyance. The troupe’s hive mind is sharp, and that sharpness results
in many hilarious moments.
That’s it for TYK’s shows during this year’s Fringe, but
you can find the group performing locally or watch its videos online at facebook.com/thankyoukiss.
This article appears in Sep 21-27, 2016.
