Yale comedy: make your schizophrenia an asset

Q. What's funnier than a baby on fire?

A. Nothing!

Now, if you can come up with entertaining, classy fare like that little gem, perhaps you will be interested in the raucous Yale comedy scene. That's right, children, with four improvisational comedy groups (the Viola Question, the Purple Crayon, Just Add Water, and the Exit Players) and two sketch comedy groups (the Fifth Humor and the recently founded Suite 13), opportunities abound to make people titter and guffaw.

All of the groups hold recruitment shows at the beginning of the year, to help potential new members see what each group's style is like and to encourage them to give comedy a shot. From Just Add Water's more musical comedy—with a surprisingly-versatile keyboardist leading the jumpsuit-clad members through any style of music from gangsta rap to doo-wop—to the Exit Players' famous Denis Leary-like "rants," to the Fifth Humor's millions of ad parodies—a chance for individual members to let off steam on absolutely anything—each group has a distinct character.

Experience is not necessary: groups accept people from a wide range of prior experience. Comedy auditions are, as a rule, not arduous, dragged-out affairs à la singing group rush. However, those who do their homework and attend the workshops held by the improv groups before auditions are often rewarded: not only do they get to try out the games that constitute the auditions with a little less pressure to flex their wits, they get a chance to become more familiar with the groups they want to join.

Entering the auditions, be prepared to say or do anything. Try not to curse a blue streak or hurt any of your fellow aspiring comics—remember, only fake violence is funny! Usually the groups audition people in one or two nights, and the auditions themselves are so much fun that many people return to them every year with little thought of their chances of actually getting called back. For those with a touch of stage fright, you may find a place in comedy nonetheless—the Fifth Humor also allows you to audition as a writer, simply by coming up with a sam-ple sketch. A day or two after auditions, if you're funny enough, there is one round of callbacks and then it's all finally over. Ahh...painless.

Why should you do comedy? Perks, Francine, perks. Not only will you be an instant campus celebrity and have the adoration of naked, screaming audiences (well, maybe not always naked), but you'll do fun stuff, like go on tours during the various school breaks or get sweet, styling threads for free. This year, for instance, the Fifth Humor got personalized bowling shirts while Just Add Water continued wearing their traditional stylish jumpsuits; for spring break, the Exit Players went to London while the Viola Question drove to Miami. Most of the groups go on road trips over Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks as well, performing mostly for area high schools. Other special events hosted by the groups include the Viola Question's Comedy Marathon, a daunting, 24-hour, malt-liquor-assisted performance on Cross Campus, and the Exit Players' unique ImproValentines, personalized (and bizarre) messages of love that anyone can send to their secret crush for just two dollars. Can you play matchmaker and make people laugh in any other business than comedy at Yale? Unless you happen to be a member of the singing Elvises, I think not.

What's the time commitment during the semester? Most of the improv groups rehearse about twice a week for a few hours at a time and hold a "business" meeting that usually involves more drinking than actual business affairs—and if free alcohol is incentive enough for you to consider improv comedy, you obviously belong there.

The sketch groups, similarly, have meetings twice a week to discuss sketch ideas and develop material. So, although entering into a comedy group is a commitment—and a very enjoyable one—it's not going to take over your life like the bloodsucking succubus called a capella.

Furthermore, though not all improv comedians act, many members of comedy groups have the time to do a significant amount of Yale theater, as well as the talent to get the roles. A Viola Question member is directing this year's Commencement musical, while a recent production of Side Man featured four Exit Players. In fact, both the president and vice president of last year's Dramat were improv comedians; the president was in the Viola Question, while the VP was an Exit Player.

But even if you don't plan to audition, be sure to catch these funny folks at their performances throughout the year. (Even if baby-on-fire humor isn't really your cup of tea.)

Graphic by Sara Edward-Corbett.

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