By Dana Casadei

The lights dim, a hush comes over the crowd, and the familiar beat of “It’s Raining Men” pours in. E.B. Janet (Michelle Miracle) and Tasha Woode (Shelley Regner) enter center stage and begin to sing, but the words don’t exactly match the famous hit by The Weather Girls. The “raining men” have become “two hot men.” When the two men do join the scene, it plays out like a similar one in “Magic Mike,” trench coats and umbrellas included. Needless to say “Spank! Harder: The Sequel” at Detroit’s City Theatre isn’t your “traditional” night at the theater. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

If you didn’t see the first show, “Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody,” don’t worry; E.B. catches you up. Short version: Tasha, a wholesome virgin, meets unbelievable good-looking billionaire Hugh Hanson (Ben Palacios, who is really good-looking and has comedic timing to match). The two then begin a sex-only relationship because Hugh isn’t the relationship kind of guy. (Of course he isn’t.) There’s some fighting, Tasha saying she wants more, some breaking up, but ultimately they get back together. As E.B. tells us, “Eat it, doom romance.”

Then the sequel begins, over a weekend where E.B. has the house to herself and wine is her only company. This story is a lot like the first show. Tasha and Hugh are together, but Tasha wants more. Enter the last leg of the love triangle, hot and emotionally available Carter Carnegie (scene-stealer Chris Gustin). Then all three must figure out what they really want in a partner, and decide who they really belong with.

Much like the show’s “rendition” of “It’s Raining Men,” the musical numbers take memorable songs and add their own spin. The show tackles hits like “Blurred Lines,” which was an audience favorite, and artists like Adele, where Regner’s raspy voice kills it. Regner’s vocal chops make these songs sound a little less ridiculous than their lyrics suggest, but they’re still hilarious.

Miracle is the funniest member of the cast. Her reactions are priceless. Miracle’s background in improv, sketch comedy, and stand-up definitely shows.

The microphones seemed to be having some issues, though, on opening night. There was a tendency to get static when either of the men began talking loudly. Thankfully that was the only tech issue in the Jim Millan-directed show. George Drabing Hicks’ sound design works wonderfully.

One of the things the show does well is make fun of the issues people had with the book – such as plot holes and very little character development. At one point Tasha looks at E.B. and tells her, “Most successful sequels have character development.” That is one of the many moments where the show makes fun of the New York Times bestseller. It’s an easy book to make fun of, and “Spank! Harder” does it with ease. The show’s writers, Millan, Colin Munch, Jon Blair, and Ian McIntyre, with additional contributions by Amanda Barker and Miracle, also take a crack at a variety of other areas in pop culture, where nothing is safe – including PBS’ “Downton Abbey.”

“Spank! Harder: The Sequel” is one of the raunchiest, most over-the-top shows I’ve seen. While the audience that was there on opening night, myself included, seemed to enjoy themselves, this is a show that plays better to a certain type of demographic. If you want a fun night out with your girlfriends, then go see this. But if you want a fun night with your mom or grandma, or your more conservative BFF, you may want to find another option.