originally written for The Emory Wheel: Arts & Living(www.emorywheel.com)
There are certain questions that haunt all Emory students: Do I really need to know how to do a push-up to graduate? Will my mangled corpse be found crushed between shelves in the stacks someday? And, most importantly, who would win in an ultimate battle to the death between Dooley and Swoop? Comedy improv troupe Rathskellar answers all of these questions and more in its newest project, Chips and a Pickle, Baby?.
The performance is a two-act sketch comedy show based on the bizarre happenings that could only exist in the Emory community. The show, which debuted in Harland Cinema this past weekend, will be performed two more times this coming weekend, March 26 and 27 at 8 p.m. The troupe will also be returning to improv later this semester with the Rathskellar Senior Show on April 25 at 8 p.m. in White Hall 208.
While most Emory students and recent graduates know Rathskellar to be an improv troupe, the organization actually has a history of working with sketch comedy. A decade or so ago, Rathskellar was exclusively a sketch troupe.
Reigning Emperor Joshua Izaak had the idea of returning to these early Rathskellar roots, suggesting a shift into sketch comedy last spring. But with certain members abroad and many other commitments within the group, plans were postponed. Last fall, after seeing multiple shows by the comedy troupe The Second City, Rathskellar was inspired to revive the idea, and began planning an Emory-themed show.
The “Skel” fans who are familiar with Rathskellar’s “no-smut” policy will be surprised to find that Chips and a Pickle, Baby? is more daring and unafraid to broach some tabooed topics.
“No one is safe at this show,” said Geoff Schorkopf, Rathskellar High Priest. “Those who keep track of Emory goings-on will be pleasantly surprised at some of the subtler jokes. Yet some of the more outrageous jokes smack you in the face like Dooley’s glove.”
Sophomore Preston Hogue explores the love-hate relationship students have with sustainability. Izaak shows us what happens when Dooley Guards go too far.
Schorkopf aptly imitates certain overenthusiastic Orientation Leaders, and sophomore Jake Krakovsky coins what could be the greatest Dobbs University Center (DUC)-inspired catchphrase Emory has ever seen.
“The transition felt smooth, and none of the comedic value was lost,” said sophomore and diehard Rathskellar fan Jefferson Sporn in reference to the group’s shift into sketch comedy. “The show was fresh and different and still incredibly funny.”
Moving from their typical improvisation into a scripted show was a difficult journey for troupe members.
“Rathskellar was not ready for the process: writing, rehearsing, memorization,” Schorkopf said. “It’s just not what improvisers do.”
The group capitalized on their honed improv skills during the writing process, formulating sketches and coming up with ideas through their natural, spontaneous style.
As the script progressed, the members shifted to a more traditional method of playwriting by dividing into smaller groups to fine-tune individual sketches.
“Whereas most Skel practices are group efforts, we really had to divide and conquer on this one,” Schorkopf said. “After we all would work on different skits, we’d come together, present our stuff and make edits.”
Izaak wrote the majority of the skits but, in true Rathskellar style, every group member contributed something as the process moved along.
“Most of the basic ideas were created at the end of last semester in a mass brainstorm session,” Schorkopf said. “Many skits got added and cut as the semester went on. Sophie [Edwards], Josh [Izaak], Jake [Krakovsky], myself and our excellent pianist, Joel [Thompson], have also developed a number of original songs. I’d say, on the whole, the entire show sounds like it’s coming from a unified voice, which makes it truly a product of teamwork.”
While shifting into the technical world of playwriting was a demanding task, Izaak also notes that it was a necessary learning experience for Rathskellar.
“This has been more of an experiment, and I think the group has responded well to it,” Izaak said. “Everything was more organized. I got both a stage manager, Rebecca Drake, and assistant stage manager, Madeline Teissler, to help with running rehearsals. It’s hard to be everywhere at once and to do every little thing, and they have been fantastic in helping make this show a reality.”
All of these elements came together in Saturday’s show, displaying a different yet equally entertaining side of Rathskellar. Scene breaks were filled with applause from the audience and a piano score by Thompson.
“Rathskellar did a wonderful job, as would be expected from its improv reputation,” junior Malcolm Tariq said. “Hopefully, they will do more sketch shows in the future.”
Even as Rathskellar mocked the Emory Alma Mater, the show seemed to be an effort of love.
The attention to detail when it came to Emory-specific humor was phenomenal and could only be created by true lovers of the campus community.
The performance is a two-act sketch comedy show based on the bizarre happenings that could only exist in the Emory community. The show, which debuted in Harland Cinema this past weekend, will be performed two more times this coming weekend, March 26 and 27 at 8 p.m. The troupe will also be returning to improv later this semester with the Rathskellar Senior Show on April 25 at 8 p.m. in White Hall 208.
While most Emory students and recent graduates know Rathskellar to be an improv troupe, the organization actually has a history of working with sketch comedy. A decade or so ago, Rathskellar was exclusively a sketch troupe.
Reigning Emperor Joshua Izaak had the idea of returning to these early Rathskellar roots, suggesting a shift into sketch comedy last spring. But with certain members abroad and many other commitments within the group, plans were postponed. Last fall, after seeing multiple shows by the comedy troupe The Second City, Rathskellar was inspired to revive the idea, and began planning an Emory-themed show.
The “Skel” fans who are familiar with Rathskellar’s “no-smut” policy will be surprised to find that Chips and a Pickle, Baby? is more daring and unafraid to broach some tabooed topics.
“No one is safe at this show,” said Geoff Schorkopf, Rathskellar High Priest. “Those who keep track of Emory goings-on will be pleasantly surprised at some of the subtler jokes. Yet some of the more outrageous jokes smack you in the face like Dooley’s glove.”
Sophomore Preston Hogue explores the love-hate relationship students have with sustainability. Izaak shows us what happens when Dooley Guards go too far.
Schorkopf aptly imitates certain overenthusiastic Orientation Leaders, and sophomore Jake Krakovsky coins what could be the greatest Dobbs University Center (DUC)-inspired catchphrase Emory has ever seen.
“The transition felt smooth, and none of the comedic value was lost,” said sophomore and diehard Rathskellar fan Jefferson Sporn in reference to the group’s shift into sketch comedy. “The show was fresh and different and still incredibly funny.”
Moving from their typical improvisation into a scripted show was a difficult journey for troupe members.
“Rathskellar was not ready for the process: writing, rehearsing, memorization,” Schorkopf said. “It’s just not what improvisers do.”
The group capitalized on their honed improv skills during the writing process, formulating sketches and coming up with ideas through their natural, spontaneous style.
As the script progressed, the members shifted to a more traditional method of playwriting by dividing into smaller groups to fine-tune individual sketches.
“Whereas most Skel practices are group efforts, we really had to divide and conquer on this one,” Schorkopf said. “After we all would work on different skits, we’d come together, present our stuff and make edits.”
Izaak wrote the majority of the skits but, in true Rathskellar style, every group member contributed something as the process moved along.
“Most of the basic ideas were created at the end of last semester in a mass brainstorm session,” Schorkopf said. “Many skits got added and cut as the semester went on. Sophie [Edwards], Josh [Izaak], Jake [Krakovsky], myself and our excellent pianist, Joel [Thompson], have also developed a number of original songs. I’d say, on the whole, the entire show sounds like it’s coming from a unified voice, which makes it truly a product of teamwork.”
While shifting into the technical world of playwriting was a demanding task, Izaak also notes that it was a necessary learning experience for Rathskellar.
“This has been more of an experiment, and I think the group has responded well to it,” Izaak said. “Everything was more organized. I got both a stage manager, Rebecca Drake, and assistant stage manager, Madeline Teissler, to help with running rehearsals. It’s hard to be everywhere at once and to do every little thing, and they have been fantastic in helping make this show a reality.”
All of these elements came together in Saturday’s show, displaying a different yet equally entertaining side of Rathskellar. Scene breaks were filled with applause from the audience and a piano score by Thompson.
“Rathskellar did a wonderful job, as would be expected from its improv reputation,” junior Malcolm Tariq said. “Hopefully, they will do more sketch shows in the future.”
Even as Rathskellar mocked the Emory Alma Mater, the show seemed to be an effort of love.
The attention to detail when it came to Emory-specific humor was phenomenal and could only be created by true lovers of the campus community.
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