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Peer Reviews

Sun Gods in the Shade:
An Evening of Sketch Comedy


Starring the Indicators:
Erin Crites, James Isaac, James Cronin, Candace Lawrence, Matt Gifford, Brandon Meeks, Robert Greene, Neil Mulac, Mary Holt and Ben Owens


Reviewed by Deborah Ward

Entire contents are copyright © 2007, Deborah Ward. All rights reserved.

 

If you have not yet realized that the government avoids difficult issues, that our founding fathers did indeed imbibe alcohol and enjoyed women, and that infomercials and superhero movies are annoying, and have not yet outgrown crude college-age humor, then you might enjoy these many thankfully short sketches written and performed by the Indicators. Although at times some lines in these sketches were extremely witty, such as John Adams asking if someone would like some Sam Adams while offering them beer, most of the wit is extremely familiar to those of us nearing 40.

I must give accolades to three sketches that had me rolling in the aisles. Cingular Commercial by James Cronin does an excellent job of poking fun at the dropped-call commercials using the serious issue of HIV test results. The dropped call leaves the actress screaming while she drops to her knees, "I knew I shouldn't have slept with that scumbag!"

Doctor's Visit by James Cronin, Ben Owens and James Isaac uses some highly Dr. Seussish rhyming techniques to diagnose the ills of youths.
"Dr. Theodore is a highly published doctor," declares mom.
"But he's never been published in the New England Journal of Medicine," complains the whiny child.
This diagnosis might be quite glom. (Yes, the rhymes are a bit stretchy.)

Clowns...Oh My! by Ben Owens takes an in-depth look at the historical war between Clowns and Mayans. If you are stumped at the long-seeded hate between the two groups and didn't realize that "clowns have been around that long," then you need to spend the $7 to see this last sketch of the evening. Seeing a painted, sword-wielding Mayan jump in slow motion over the bar to attack the Clown bartender...priceless.

Three enjoyable sketches out of 17 don't figure to good percentages. However, I must say that the acting was extraordinaire. The 10 cast members performed multiple characters in multiple sketches, and each performance was award-winning in spite of the crudeness of the ideas portrayed.

 

Sun Gods in the Shade: An Evening of Sketch Comedy
The Indicators
Performed at the Thrust Theatre at the University of Louisville
Reservations: (502) 852-8448

http://www.indicatorsimprov.com/

June 1-10, 2007

 

Posted June 6, 2007