| "Laugh Your Ass Off" Comedy Night | | Print | |
| Written by M. J. Garland | |
| Sunday, 25 June 2006 | |
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A title on a poster which drew much attention I’m sure. Needless to say, I didn’t laugh mine off but rather just one cheek. This sketch comedy and improv performance took place on Saturday June 24 on the 40th St. Stage.
Not much to be said about this troupe, with the exception that they were trying really hard to perform improvisation and sketch comedy. I found it to be nice effort by these students from O.D.U. The sketches in many ways were much more successful than the improvisational efforts. In fact, I am glad they even managed to “cross a line”at times, as the audience and myself let out moans of “that ain’t right.”
When it comes to pushing the envelope, one of the sketches in particular comes to mind. The troupe focuses on a reoccurring skit (appearing and developing in about 6 small segments throughout the night) about why children should not be at some forms of theatre or movies. I want you to just think of every movie you have attended during the last year and ask yourself, “Why’s a child at THE OMEN and what would I like to do or say to the parent who brought them?” Well this troupe says it for you. Everything from the statements you would like to make, up to pounding the child on to the floor. May seem cruel but we’ve all been there at some time or another as our night out is being ruined by a crying child.
Throughout the evening, the skits were stronger than the improvisation. The biggest problem with the improvisations were due to the actors not knowing what was going to come out of someone’s mouth (yes, it’s improv and the idea is that you don’t know), and the many mumbled words that came about due to the non-commitment of the performers.
So with that, I would like to mention that both JORDAN NOBLE and NANCY DICKERSON, however, did manage to keep up with the pacing and communicate many funny moments and lines to this troupe of ten. Jordan Noble commands one skit for several minutes without saying a word. The skit was a group session for super heroes with useless or embarrassing super powers. Jordan’s was apparently the ability to shoot tampons like Spiderman shoots webs. In this skit and many of his others he manages to keep you focused on him and yet barely speaks. This is quite often very difficult task to accomplish. As for Nancy Dickerson she kicks off one of her first moments on stage singing what appears to be an unrehearsed song and I can’t tell you if it was or not. Everything she does through out the night is fresh and unexpected. Even in her sections of improv her flights of fancy fall right into place with everything around her no matter how outrageous it seems. To both of them I tip my hat.
Knowing how difficult it can be to perform improv and that it is a skill that must be honed, I do hope there will be future endeavors by this troupe... but hopefully with a bit more rehearsal so it is a little crisper.
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They need to rehearse the improv games and commit to what they are doing to make it work 