Rec Room Series

wednesday, may 5, 2010
black rock bar
3614 n. damen
chicago, il
8:00 pm


The Underdog

curated by Gretchen Kalwinski

Victor Laszlo: “Isn't it strange that you're always fighting on the side of the underdog?”
Rick Blaine: “Yes, I found that a very expensive hobby, too.”
-Casablanca

Everybody loves a good underdog story. From David and Goliath to Susan Boyle to Rocky Balboa and Robin Hood, humans revel in rooting for unlikely heroes. Chicagoans in particular—what with our wretched weather and inability to overcome our gangster-laden, “second city” image—have a special affinity for those who are expected to lose. Since today is Cinco de Mayo, it’s imbued with special “underdog” significance: On May 5, 1862, the outnumbered Mexican army scored an unlikely victory over the French forces at the Battle of Puebla Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin. In honor of this holiday, tonight's Rec Room will feature comedians, fiction writers, and musicians performing brief underdog-themed works.