On December 27th, it was almost ten o’clock, and the sky around me was pitch black. Normally, I would be heading to bed at this time, but I was instead heading to downtown Chicago to see a Second City performance with my family. My mom, dad, brother and I drove down to Piper’s Alley to see the eleven o’clock performance of Algorithm Nation or The Static Quo for thirty-one dollars a piece. For each of us, this was the first Second City performance that we had ever attended, so we did not really know what to expect.

We walked through a hallway filled with caricatures of past Second City performers who went on to be famous actors, and I immediately felt the sense of professionalism and importance of the show we were about to attend. We scurried up a set of stairs that led to a lounge, which was not in the least bit what we expected. The room was filled with closely arranged tables, giving it a casual and comfortable environment.

Our feelings of contentment were abruptly interrupted when the show began. The lights dimmed and one single light bulb flickered as an ominous voice explained that we were trapped the algorithm and must enjoy the show. Suddenly, one single spotlight struck the stage on none other than actor Jeffrey Murdoch, who was tied up in only his underwear. He was being held hostage by the other performers: Ryan Asher, Tyler Davis, Emma Pope, Nate Varrone and Kimberly Michelle Vaughn.

The scene took an even darker turn as the five untied actors waved around prop-guns all willy-nilly. I specifically recall them dancing to “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham; as they sang, “Bang bang bang,” they pretended to shoot their guns in every direction. Afterwards, they dramatically uttered, “Thoughts and prayers,” to mock a phrase commonly spoken after mass shootings. This scene reflected the carelessness and frequency of harmful American gun usage and the lack of significant effort to counteract these actions. With the loud booms coming to an end, the scene left us in an eerie mood.

Of the twenty-something performances, the next scene that particularly caught my attention was a more lively scene featuring Asher, Pope and Vaughn. They were all singing a song about horoscopes called What’s Your Sign. The three women initially sang about how they were very independent and did not need to rely on a man, but if he had a compatible zodiac sign they would do anything to be with him. This unique scene made fun of the criteria that some women follow to make romantic connections.

Although not very many women adhere to their horoscopes, there are many people who enter relationships for inauthentic purposes such as social advancement. This scene was not as striking as the others, but it was very humorous and left me thinking about how social standards guide our behaviors. In CST, we have talked a lot about how our upbringings dominate many of our perceptions of people and ideas, and I was able to connect the ideas in this scene (romantic relationships) to the concept of socialization.

Later on, we watched Murdoch and Varrone portray news anchors of Good Morning Cleveland and reflect on thirty years of filming by viewing old tapes. Their old selves (played by Asher and Pope) made vulgar remarks about minorities in each episode. They said brutal comments about Jews, gays, women, and many other minorities. After looking back at each clip, the anchors dropped their jaws in shock. This scene made a statement about how many jokes and perceptions had radically changed over the past thirty years.

Watching this moment with my parents, who had grown up around the time that such comments would have been a norm, was very eye-opening. The scene may have exaggerated the extent to which people publically made such awful remarks, but it surely demonstrated how our some of social standards have gradually transformed for the better. As I have learned in CST with the cycle of liberation, we must dare to go against the grain and stand up for not only ourselves but also others. Many of our previous transitions have stemmed from this principle, but we must continue to work for further change in the future.

Shortly after the Good Morning Cleveland scene, the cast attempted to allow us to take a short intermission, but the ominous voice and flickering light returned, informing us that we were still stuck in the algorithm. The performers had no control, it was all up to the algorithm. We did, however, still get a chance to stretch our legs.

After our break, the actors performed less rehearsed routines and began improvising and interacting with the audience much more. Many of these scenes were not as satirical as they were goofy, but the second act still brought other social issues to light.

One scene that I particularly connected to highlighted the competitive environment around maintaining beauty standards. Pope and Ryan portrayed old college friends who were catching up at lunch. Ryan subtly tried to tell her old friend about the new makeup brand that she had been avidly using and representing, while Pope fired back by describing a new diet product she loves: Skinny Bitch. The two went back and forth trying to impress each other by explaining the wild procedures they went through to follow social standards for beauty; for example, they might be cutting off a person’s face to put on their own or ingesting tapeworms kill all of the unwanted calories and fat.

Although it was light-hearted, this scene really hit home for me. Society often encourages wild beauty regimes like crash diets or insane new makeup products. I am constantly pressured to try the newest beauty trends, and I never know what would be unhealthy for me. Pope and Ryan really were able to emphasize the ridiculousness of the beauty industry through their wacky one-ups.

As the show came to a close, an audience member – named Kevin – participated in a series of skits. He was being held hostage and had to improvise with Varrone. This scene was actually quite funny, despite it being a bit uncomfortable to watch. The performers ended where they had begun, with Murdoch held hostage. This time, however, he was encouraging Kevin to flee while he could.

Finally, the voice of the algorithm returned and again told us that we could not break the system. This lingering idea really helped tie the entire performance together. The algorithm represented society’s unwillingness to change, while the performers were doing their absolute best to rise above it and give themselves a voice.

This repetitive concept reminded me a lot of what we had learned in CST regarding how sometimes people do not stand up to the controlling aspects of society. Because of the concept of the algorithm, I was able to critically consider my social barriers and judge whether I make a significant effort to defy them.

On the ride home I connected with my family on a deeper level. We talked about many of the issues brought to light in the show and were really surprised with how entertaining and enriching the experience was. I encourage many other high school students to attend this show, especially if they go with their family. Spending a late night in downtown Chicago with my parents and brother was a fun adventure in itself, but the fact that we also learned something made it all the more special.