Each week reporter Jeff Darge searches campus for a new club to join.
As is sung in the 1952 film "Singing In The Rain," "Everyone wants to laugh." That is why I decided to audition in an attempt to join ASU's funniest people: the members of ASU Comedy.
The group has four wings within its program: the Farce Side, Barren Mind Improv, Tempe Late Night and Stand Up vs. the World. While stand-up is open to all at any time, the other three groups have auditions at the beginning of every semester.
Before auditions started, the room was seemingly divided in half. On one side sat those who I presumed to be current comedians within the ASU Comedy community. On the other side, were the hopefuls, those eager to be a part of the club. I sat with the hopefuls.
While I waited, not talking to anyone, I began to reconsider the choices that led me to this seat. I had no idea why I was auditioning. I hadn't acted in a long time, and truthfully there were a million places I would rather be then waiting to jump on stage in front of comedians.
The audition began, and a director asked that everyone who planned to audition for Barren Mind Improv raise their hand. Never having done improvisational comedy before and still doubting myself, I kept my hand down. The director took half of those with their hands up and asked them to go on stage to do a group improv game.
It was during the first group that I realized that a story about me sitting and watching comedy would be no fun to read, so when the director asked for the second half of people who had raised their hands to go on stage, I went as well. I hoped that no one had noticed that I did not initially raise my hand, but I doubt they would have cared.
During the exercise, I actually spoke up a few times and got maybe three or four laughs. I was happy to get that over with and leave it to the people with actual business on stage.
That is, until we were told that we were going to be selected in twos to perform on stage. I was instantly filled with fear. Embarrassing myself is funny, but I didn't want to force some other person with an actual chance at joining the group to deal with me.
I waited for what seemed like an eternity until my number was called. It was actually the last to be called, so I had plenty of time to stew in my self-doubt. When I walked up to the stage and met my partner, I took a moment to warn him that I was a reporter there for a story, he told me that he was Farce Side director and electrical engineering senior Cameron Mahai.
I thought, "Great, nothing like embarrassing myself right in front of a source."
Despite my lack of confidence, Mahai told me that it was totally fine, and that we were up on that stage to have fun.
The game began. It was four separate improvised scenes back to back, and it gave me a chance to see the wit that these members have. Mahai's first role was a reporter trying to get a story. I can't help but feel like I may have been the inspiration for that. During the game, both Mahai and myself got laughs, which was great. I think he was trying to ease me into improv as he knew I wasn't there solely to audition.
When I got off stage, the Farce Side's audition began. For someone like me who did drama club in high school, it was a bit more familiar. Groups were handed scripts and assigned roles. Easy enough. I was given three lines. Even easier. I'm guessing that this was Mahai's doing, as he knew I was there for a story and did not really need a huge role in an audition that I was not actually involved in.
After the skit, the Farce Side hopefuls were broken into groups again and given a script that did not work for the show. Things were wrong with the script and we had to identify what. Relief washed over me. A writing exercise! Something I do! Our script, a story about Sherlock Holmes and a tasteless Latino stereotype was relatively easy to tear apart. We identified what was wrong, and how it could be made better. My group presented last and then the audition was over. Four hours had passed since we started and I could not believe it.
I took an opportunity to catch up with Mahai and film freshman Noah Hunt, who is also assistant director of Barren Mind. I had to know what drove them to put themselves out there like this on a weekly basis. They both agreed that they were drawn to comedy. They have this love of performing and making people laugh.
Also important was the group's dynamic itself.
"I felt really accepted," Hunt said. "I made so many new friends. That was something I was so worried about when I started college."
To sum up why the group was important, Mahai, naturally, made a joke.
"I think it was Shakespeare who said 'comedy is good,'" he said.
"I think Lindsay Lohan said that at one point, too," Hunt added.
For those who are interested in watching these groups perform, the Farce Side performs every Friday night on the Memorial Union stage. Barren Mind holds performances every Thursday at midday.
Related Links:
Jack of all clubs: Sun Devils are Better Together
ASU comedy troupes express talent for entertainment
Reach the reporter at jdarge@asu.edu or follow @jeffdarge on Twitter.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
