The 180 seats of Lindsay Auditorium in Sturm Hall were jam-packed last Wednesday night.
It was a full house, with students crouched next to seats, even standing against the back wall. They were there for the opening night of DU’s improv group, Skintight Outrage.
The fall quarter is a stressful time for students of DU. With new classes, heavy workloads and fast-approaching deadlines, the club aims to create a space where students can forget about academic stress.
“Improv is fun and not too serious,” said Jake Henry, a second-year Skintight Outrage member. “It’s a great breath of fresh air to get you through the week.”
Conversations of past performances and excited comments about what was to come drowned out Britney Spears’ “Toxic,” which blared from the speakers. The students were silenced when Treasurer Ryan Bouchard stepped forth.
Members started the show by running down the aisles of Lindsay and storming the stage. Cheers rang out once they came into eyesight. When Audrey Brittain, a second-year Skintight Outrage member, took in the size of the crowd, two words came to mind: holy shit.
Multiple improv games followed the entrance, each ending with the ring of a silver call bell. Students yelled out suggestions for the team who quickly reacted, working together as if they could read each other’s minds.
“They had really good chemistry on stage,” said Bella Kraus, a second-year audience member.
It’s hard to believe that the group consists of six sophomores. With upperclassmen members either having graduated or studying abroad, they had big shoes to fill — a task made less frightening by the crowd, with most having attended past performances.
“They know us, we know them,” said Bouchard. “The familiar faces make it not too daunting.”
When the ultimate goal is to be laughed at, nothing is off the table for the group. From using rolling chairs to mimic spider legs, adopting accents or giving Oscar-worthy performances, each sketch is more unpredictable than the last.
“Shows are free,” said performer Owen Scott. “We want as many people as possible.”
The night was finished with Double Entendre, a game where suggestions are made into sexual innuendos. Ethan Anthony got off one last joke as Trevor Crounse-Dahler rang the final bell.
