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-- See video of the show at the bottom of this page --
Sides were splitting at Common Grounds when a trio of talented comedians entertained a large crowd of mostly freshmen, making the first day of school more hectic than normal.
"Mission IMPROVable" featured three "agents" performing undeniably funny skits on the fly with input from the audience. Try to imagine "Saturday Night Live" meets charades.
To suit the theme, each agent wore standard "Mission: Impossible" attire, complete with black slacks, white shirts and dark sunglasses.
Sean Monahan, Aaron Krebs and Colin Sweeney each embodied an individual comedic style, but were totally at the whim of the audience members' suggestions, which were generally sex-related. Each agent was perfectly capable, and more than willing, to do whatever it took to keep the crowd laughing.
At one point, each agent took turns approaching an imaginary casket where a deceased relative lay. Near-deafening laughter ensued when Krebs hit on his cohort's dead mother in all her embalmed glory.
"Your mom looks really good man," he said. "I mean really good."
From then on, students couldn't help but shout out anything that came to mind to give the performers inspiration.
The audience swelled in size beyond the capacity of the small coffeehouse before the show even began and flowed into the adjacent lounge. Many onlookers had to peep at the show from behind the large glass windows in the back of the room.
Under the circumstances, the improv group did a great job of engaging the entire audience as they ran hog wild, wireless microphones in hand. Students generally had a positive reaction to the show.
"I really didn't know what to expect tonight, but I'm really glad I came," said freshman Kate Kurzweil, who participated onstage. "It was so funny."
Kurzweil was involved in theater at her high school, so she enjoyed taking part in the improvisational humor, she said.
Senior Nick Simone, a psychology major, had a more analytical observation of the show.
"'Mission IMPROVable' reminded me of a 21st century version of The Three Stooges," he said.
The group tours nationally and usually performs an extended version of the show at larger venues.
"We really like to visit the college campuses because it provides students with a nonalcoholic alternative, as well as a chance to see something out of the norm," Monahan said.
The three comedians were constantly joking, not only among each other, but also with enthusiastic fans eager for more.
"Where are you guys headed to next?" an audience member said.
"To Applebee's," Sweeney said with a smile.
The show was open to the public, something not typical of Prime Time Productions, which provides late night entertainment in the form of movies, comedians, guest speakers and even hypnotists to students living on campus.
Most of Prime Time Productions' shows take place in Whitney Hall, but the availability of Common Grounds on the first day of school allowed for an event that more than just students living on campus could enjoy.
"Common Grounds is great because it provides a more intimate setting for students," said Chad Disharoon, assistant coordinator for Residential Life Programming, an affiliate of Prime Time Productions.
Prime Time Productions will show "Iron Man" at 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday in the Whitney Hall dining area, and will present other movies and comedians throughout the semester.
Shea Cardinalli can be reached at scardinalli@theorion.com
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