Date rape and gender stereotyping aren't typically comedic, but a traveling acting troupe hopes throwing laughs into the mix will make the subjects easier to discuss.
More than 135 students showed up to Neeb Hall Monday night to watch the first performance of a comedy show about sex. Health and Wellness Promotion and the Residence Hall Association brought Sex Signals, a semi- improvisational traveling comedy troupe, to campus for the first time.
"We brought it to campus because it's in line with our program that deals with gender roles and rape prevention," said Program Coordinator Dena Martin.
Christian Murphy, co-founder and artistic director of Sex Signals, said the show's important topics are not often talked about.
"It's a unique program that deals with serious issues," he said. "Too many people feel uncomfortable about date rape."
The show consists of several sketches with audience members giving input throughout.
Social work freshman Jessica Jansepar said some of the reactions to a sketch about date rape surprised her.
"It was interesting that a lot of the guys didn't think it was considered rape," she said, referring to a sketch where a college male retold his side of an alleged rape.
The male was on a talk show defending his position that the sex was consensual.
Throughout the sketch, audience members were encouraged to hold up "stop" signs whenever they felt the situation went too far.
For many schools, Sex Signals has been a regular performance, Murphy said.
He developed the program with Gail Stern as part of Catharsis Productions during the summer of 2000.
The Chicago-based pair wanted to produce a show for college students to "educate and break down barriers," Murphy said.
The first year, the troupe performed six shows around the country, but the number has grown to more than 250 shows on college campuses across the nation, Murphy said.
Actors receive about 50 hours of rape prevention information from victim advocacy groups and 50 more hours from the Sex Signals company, Murphy said.
Some universities have been hesitant to host the troupe because of the explicit language used throughout.
"We use very frank language," Murphy said. "But if you aren't using language in a credible way, you're not really reaching the crutch of the issue."
Some students enjoyed the frank language and content more than anything else.
"Lots of people can relate to [the language]," said communications senior Eric Bennett.
Reach the reporter at kristi.eaton@asu.edu.
