By Alexandra Samuely
Correspondent
The College’s improvisational comedy troupe the Mixed Signals held their post-St. Patrick’s Day show on Sunday, March 18.
The troupe incorporated new games amongst new members while keeping their tradition of audience participation alive and well.
Performing to a full crowd, the troupe played old favorites like “Half-Life”— a game in which a two minute scene is performed and then reenacted in one-minute, 30-second, 15-second and one-second increments.
The night kicked off with a round of “Press Conference.”
This game called for the audience to decide on a world-changing event to take place while Mixed Signals member and senior women’s and gender studies major Liz So fielded questions from other members that gave subtle hints about the fictitious tragedy, which consisted of pants being abolished from the world.
Senior psychology major John Eldis received one of the biggest laughs of the night with his comment: “Being a Scotsman, I don’t really get what everyone’s complaining about!”
The game “Five Letter Word” between junior biology major Dan Loverro and sophomore history and secondary education major Jonathan Dowler escalated into a hilarious shouting match, while “First Line, Last Line” with sophomore nursing major Nina Shulgach and senior communications studies major Sam Paternostro instructed them to perform a scene beginning with the phrase “look at the moon” and ending with “Oh no, it’s the Terminator!”
New games included the well-received “Dating Game,” which entailed a bachelorette trying to figure out her three contestants’ quirks — decided on by the audience — and also “Crazy Prov,” which incorporated all previous games and jokes while allowing the members of the troupe to challenge and one-up each other.
The Mixed Signals practice twice a week to experiment with characters and games, according to Shulgach.
“I love that I can be whoever I want to be,” said Shulgach, who cites the chemistry and camaraderie between the members as a favorite aspect of being in the troupe. “The audience does feel it if you have good chemistry”.
Dowler credits the show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” as an inspiration for his performances and enjoys that he gets, “really immersed in scenes.”
The energetic environment is what brings people to the shows.
Sophomore sociology major Biju Egwuonwu said, “I kind of have to (attend)because my buddy Jon Dowler is in it, but it’s also really funny and a great way to spend Sunday nights.”
Whether students attend simply to support a friend or enjoy an evening of laughs before the start of the week, a Mixed Signals improv show is a way to de-stress from homework and appreciate some comedic talent.
