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Rubber Chickens improv group is both work and play
3:49 p.m., Dec. 14, 2006--The crowd cheered as the lights went down. The opening scene of a homemade video played on the large white screen at the front of the stage. The video follows sophomore Danielle Seningen as she navigates a party at the house of junior Bill Kempe. The audience laughs as each group member displays odd party quirks and at the ending credits, senior Christopher McKeever is greeted with applause. The Rubber Chicken's Oct. 20 show, “Your Mother's Milk,” was the third show for the UD improvisational comedy group. McKeever and Kempe took turns hosting and playing in the 12 skits, which included games such as Scene in the Dark, Dating Game and Director's Cut. Senior Brian Tyrseck, president of the Rubber Chickens, said the group has always done short form games, but lately have been experimenting with short-films and longer sketches. He said watching the shows and picking up the nuances of improv are the best way for Chicken hopefuls to prepare. “There are a lot of unwritten rules, like agreement and committing to the environment,” Tyrseck said. “If you mime a refrigerator in front of you, two minutes later you can't walk through it because there's supposed to be a refrigerator there.” Although he is now more worried about the technical aspects of the show, Tyrseck said it is difficult for the group members to relax the first time they perform. “The first time, it's very nerve-wracking,” he said. “You don't really realize how bright the lights are and how empty the theater looks because all the lights are shining in your face and it's just a crowd of people.” This year's Rubber Chickens members include Tyrseck, Kempe, McKeever, Seningen, senior Michael Quinn, senior Jeff Krapels, junior Kevin Stoner, junior Jeff Lange, junior Ben Warheit, sophomore Phil Kranyak, sophomore Melanie Forrest and freshman Bryan Cummings.
“It's really nerve-wracking because you want to try and get their attention and be funny but at the same time you don't want to go overboard and say something you're not supposed to say,” Forrest said. “It was probably the hardest part of getting in the group. You see these people and think, 'How can I complete with them' because they are so hilarious.” Forrest said she was not as nervous at callbacks on Sept. 7, where she competed with 15 people for three hours. She heard that night she made it and began rehearsing with the team the next week. The Rubber Chickens rehearse every Tuesday and Thursday from 5-8 p.m. in the Trabant University Center. During rehearsals, the team rehearses skits and brainstorms ideas for videos, which they show at performances. Forrest said the rehearsal is a mix of work and play. “It's really intense but it's a lot of fun,” she said. “Basically everything we do on stage, we do in practice.” While the games are rehearsed, Forrest said the group does not decide what games to play until right before the performance. The idea for “Your Mother's Milk” came out of a scene during practice. Kempe, vice president of the group, said he looks forward to rehearsals. “I've never left practice unhappy,” Kempe said. “I could walk into practice after just failing a test or getting into a fight with my parents and I always leave with a smile on my face. It's always a nice pick-me-up.” Kempe said he did some standup comedy in high school but thought the Rubber Chickens were the “epitome of funny” after watching a performance freshman year. “I was worried about auditioning,” he said. “I specifically remember leaving, thinking to myself, 'I'm not a funny person, I'm never going to get in.'”
Forrest said being on stage is a thrill. “It's so much fun to be up there, especially if you get a laugh,” she said. “It definitely is hard work, I don't want to make it seem like it's not, but it's definitely a passion for people. It's like an addiction. Once you do it, you want it more.” Tyrseck said his friends on his freshman year floor encouraged him to try out. “I found the group's web site online back in high school and thought, 'This seems really interesting,'” Tyrseck said. “I saw their table at Activities Night and said, 'No way, these kids are a bunch of weirdos.' I went to the first show, and it blew me away.” Tyrseck said the group's success has grown from dorm lounges to sell outs in the Bacchus Theatre in the basement of the Perkins Student Center. This year's group is the smallest ever, Tyrseck said, and this allows for more stage time and intimate rehearsals. Tyrseck said the group is hoping to take improv classes at The Second City, a comedy theatre in Chicago, during spring break and read books such as Truth in Comedy and Improvise to help prepare for their time on stage. Kempe said he enjoys getting laughs from the crowd. “I don't really get nervous before shows anymore,” he said. “Freshman year I did a little, but it's become more natural. I've come to terms with the fact that I'm about to perform in front of 200 kids.” Kempe said he really enjoys playing “What's My Line,” where the team members read sentences from the audience in the middle of the skit and try to incorporate the sentences into their scene. The sentences usually have nothing to do with the skit, Kempe said, so the audience members, especially the ones who wrote the sentences, usually get a kick out of the scene. Freshman Alicia Greenwalt said “Your Mother's Milk” was her first Rubber Chickens' show. “I thought it was good,” she said. “I liked the last skit. It was a good closer. I'm going to bring one of my friends next time.”
Although a new member, Forrest said the group has already become like family to her. “They're all great people to work with, so it makes it 10 times better,” she said. “I don't dread coming to practice. I get excited to see all of them, they've become really good friends.” Tyrseck said the Rubber Chickens has changed his life as an undergraduate. “You're automatically accepted into a great group of people with a great bunch of friends,” he said. “There are people who come to every show and want to get to know the new members and really welcome them with open arms. It's really weird having fans. I know we're just some college improv group. It's just the fact that people recognize you and say something to you, it really makes your day.” Article by Julia Parmley, AS '07
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