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This is a comedy entry. Normal people might be advised to skip ahead to the next entry, which will probably be about what kind of Frosted Mini-Wheats I would prefer to be eating.

I keep thinking I’m going to have time to talk about this, and I’m not. So quickly: Gameface, my sketch comedy group (that’s 4 friends of mine, Dad, with whom I write and perform comedy shows), particpated in Sketchfest NYC. Basically, some 15 or so sketch groups descended on the UCB Theatre this past weekend and all performed their shows. We were the final act — midnight at Saturday.

Gameface traditionally has just done groups of sketches that have nothing to do with each other. But we’re trying to learn how to make whole shows, where the sketches inform each other — or there’s a framework. So we took our five favorite sketches and made a show around it. We came out on stage and announced that we had joined a cult — The Church of Positivitology — and that the sketches were the sacred texts of our church. We passed out what we said were poison juice boxes and asked people to “commit suicide” with us at the end. There was a pretty big turnout for our show (the first full show since last September, I think). I’d say it was a success, especially considering it was our first attempt at a whole show,

More importantly, I got to see a bunch of other sketch groups. Turns out I don’t watch enough sketch. Seeing these other groups was far more inspirational than I could have imagined. I guess I always assumed that seeing all of Monty Python, Mr. Show, Kids in the Hall and a bunch of UCBT sketch was enough. Not really. These other groups — particularly Flaming Box of Stuff, Hypnogogia, Third Floor and Ten West — blew my mind. The main thing I noticed — was that they actually have STAGE shows. Like they have things happen that are best suited for the stage. Like they use a lot more pantomine than we do. They roller skate across the stage. They play films on the back wall that are part of the scene. They have characters, stories, solid acting and recurring themes. They have SHOWS.

Flaming Box of Stuff’s opening — their whole show was the biggest hit of the festival, I think — started in the dark. Pink Floyd plays. A cardboard cityscape sits at the back of the stage, with 2 people laying down behind it. Those two people use a laser pointer to draw an EKG pattern on the backwall to the beat of the song. Two other people carry in a third guy, who has his arms exteneded outward so he’s making a cross shape, is holding two mini flashlights and has flourescent tape running. After a moment, I realize he looks like an airplane. Then two other people make a runway on the stage, barely visible in the dark. The “plane” lands and the show begins. Very fun.

When I saw Second City’s shows (main stage and second stage) back in 1999, I was impressed with the professional presentation, but didn’t think they were so FUNNY. So I think I assumed that productions which work too hard at lighting and stage picture forget to be funny. These shows that I saw this weekend were both. It was very cool.

Plus, the other performers were all supportive off the stage. People seemed to watch each other’s stuff, for the most part. As usual, Gameface was scrambling up until the last minute to prepare so we missed stuff that went on right before us, but I saw enough to re-inspire me for a bit.

I’ve been meaning to summarize a lot more of what I saw but I think it wouldn’t really translate. So, in short, it was fun.