Knox Center hosts comic production

Laughs and banter bellowed from within the Knox Center Thursday and Friday, as the drama department’s Comedy Troupe performed the fall semester’s “It’s My Line” event.

Students presented an arsenal of comedic stand-up routines before audience members in addition to improvisation presentations, which was a first for “It’s My Line,” as well as for each student, Director Kathryn McCarty said.

Performers were able to exhibit scripts to humor audiences with life experiences and even the most outlandish of bathroom witticisms and non-sequitur one-liners.

Collectively, 10 stand-up sets were performed, each done in under 10 minutes for swift and timely variety, ultimately leading to an epic improvised finish.

Topics of farce were fairly relative and ranged from general embarrassment to poking fun at popular culture references, such as the “Twilight” film series.

Student Irene Mills said that when performing, one can get away with saying stupid things and not get in trouble.

Attendants of the event were delighted. Energy flow between audience members and performers was consistent, and laughter and receptiveness fueled stage presence for the comics.

Friday’s show in particular was more vibrant, Mills said.

“It helps to feed off of (the audience’s energy),” she said.

Student Bobby Jennings said the atmosphere was unique and agreed that participants and the audience were quite exuberant.

“Everyone was enthusiastic. There was good energy,” Jennings said.

During stand-up presentations, performers worked with personal shticks, including props accompanied with definitive mannerisms, while using stage space to their advantage.

Performer Gaspar Bernal prepared a routine that incorporated the minimal use of a guitar, as he quietly and nonchalantly picked at chords, which added to his overall monotone and pensive performance.

After stand-up routines were performed, three improvisation sets followed, which plotted audience members to further interact with the troupe. Random suggestions from the audience were thrown to correspond with subjects presented. 

McCarty said that performing comedy encourages individuality with performers, allowing them to reach audience members on different levels. “(‘It’s My Line’) is a really good event for self-expression,” McCarty said.

Jennings said that doing stand-up has helped him realize there is a definite formula to it. “You can’t just go out and be funny,” he said.

McCarty said the drama students participating in the Comedy Troupe learn perspective, and it stimulates their growth as people.

“(I’m) so happy for the students who participated,” McCarty said.

Being part of the Comedy Troupe has been beneficial for the student performers. MCHS student Eddie Horalek said that performing before audiences forms better stage presence and ultimately builds public speaking experience in the long run.

Contact Brent Bainto at bbainto.advocate@gmail.com

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