May 5, 2008Recommend (8)

BY BILL ZWECKER Sun-Times Columnist
Lakeshore Theatre co-owner Chris Ritter is still on Cloud 9 after
snaring one of the biggest comedy talents in the world this past
weekend, for what he calls ''our little 330-seat venue'' at Broadway
and Belmont. Robin Williams not only slipped in to try out new
standup material Friday night (before the Chicago taping of Ellen
DeGeneres' talk show Saturday), ''he had so much fun, he called and
asked if he could come back and do it again Saturday,'' Ritter said
Sunday afternoon.

Both Williams gigs were total surprises for the Lakeshore audience --
who first watched the scheduled lineup of Chicago comics, Prescott
Tolk, Jenna Friedman, Cameron Esposito, Robert Hines and Adam Burke --
plus showcase emcee Fay Cannalli.


Robin Williams jokes around, making Ellen DeGeneres laugh during the
taping of her show in downtown Chicago last week.
(Warner Bros./AP)

After Hines ended his set Friday, Ritter came onstage to thank the
audience and tell them, ''A year ago, when we started doing comedy
here, we felt that since comedy is an art like jazz, we hope someday
to get the best comedy artists to come by and try a few riffs of
their new material -- and do a set.''

Even after Ritter introduced Williams, ''I think a lot of people in
that room assumed it would be a Robin Williams impersonator coming
out!''
When they realized it was the real guy, the room exploded with wild
applause and screaming.

* Part of the Oscar winner's new standup material includes him
playing Satan, taking phone calls -- including some from presidential
candidates Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain. As part of
the Clinton shtick, the devilish Williams said, ''No, Hillary, I
cannot give you a two-for-one on Bill's deal. You've got to make your
own deal with me.''

* When fast-rising Chicago comic Hannibal Burress heard he had missed
seeing Williams Friday, he was ''really bummed out,'' said Ritter,
but he came for the Saturday show, just to sit in the audience to
support his fellow comics on stage. Again, Williams' appearance was a
surprise -- but when he heard backstage there was a comedian
named ''Hannibal'' in the house, Williams said, "I've got to meet
him!''

Still not knowing Williams was there, Burress was asked to do about
10 minutes of his act at the end of the show -- right before Williams
returned to reprise his gig from Friday.

Ritter said the nicest part was watching the comedy legend backstage -
- ''He was just a comic, hanging out. He took time to talk to
everyone on the show. He was fantastic -- amazingly gracious.''