News-Letter

Media Credit: Britni Crocker In the sketch pictured, TC capitalizes on typical vulgar and obscene college humor in their take on "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."

Before even passing through the doors of the Arellano theater last Friday night, Throat Culture set the scene for their traditionally ludicrous act.

As I paid the recession-friendly "discount price" 99-cent entrance fee, I handed the girls at the door a dollar, telling them not to bother with the change. However, they insisted upon the importance of this penny. I was told to take my penny and throw it into the "Fountain of Yip" for good luck. I did so to the musical musings of bubbles, blown earnestly through a bright straw by the man the fountain honored, sophomore Andrew Yip.

The introduction to their 13th sketch production was a mixture of Throat Culture's resourcefulness, postmodern comedic style and heavy handed acting, showcasing some of the best and worst elements of the group.

The audience was introduced to the sexual tension, which always promises to take a prominent place in Throat Culture's shows, in the group's welcome headed by senior Bill Fuller and freshman Maxi Grumpecht. The pair put on an amusing rendition of what at first appeared to be an archetypal story of unrequited love. However, it was soon made clear that this was a story about the psychology of the stalker.

Their bickering, as Bill's advances were continuously rejected by Maxi, implemented both the sketch comedy group's penchant for ridiculous situations and their tendency to assume a Broadway-style stage presence that comes across as over-acting in the relatively intimate 200-person setting.

Although TC supposedly was looking for shout-outs from the crowd, it soon became clear that those selected were TC members planted by "Bill" to further his cause with Maxi. The theme propagated, "love," as in "love-making," as in between Bill and Maxi, exposed these plants, and possibly the voyeuristic tendencies of some of TC's cast to both the crowd and Maxi.

After a ridiculous phone call in which we overhear Maxi's "boyfriend," freshman Mike Zaccardo, inform her from backstage that he is flying to North Korea and has to break up with her because of this. He finally urges her to partake in great sexual relations with Bill, and the initial bit closes as Maxi drags the unrepentant Mike out from the back and storms off stage.

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools