The dogma and traditions of the Catholic Church are a comic’s playground. Unfortunately, someone needs to give the cast of Illuminated Productions’ “Hopelessly Devoted” a big push on the swings to get the fun going.
The revue features Vincent Lacey and Natalie Sullivan in a series of sketches and one-liners that poke fun at Mother Church. Lacy and Sullivan have the energy, glib wit and polish that’s standard in their improv backgrounds, but the quick-cut style of the show keeps them from bringing any depth to the funny. Sullivan’s vignette about her breakup with a fiancé she sponsored in a religious conversion had a great deal of potential but stopped cold before it got started. Ditto for Lacey’s scene about his father’s detachment from his church. The performers’ pursuitof a frenetic ha-ha pace cheats them out of some amusing yet poignant moments. And that’s a God-damned shame. (Lisa Buscani)
At Apollo Theater Studio, 2540 North Lincoln, (773)935-6100, apollochicago.com, through October 30.
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