New improv artists worked into a frenzy

• Jacob Divett / Scroll Staff
• scrollarts@byui.edu

It started with the audience yelling cheese and alligator and ended with one performer sitting atop a pile of her fellows exclaiming, Who’s the captain now, sucka? And that is what students at BYU‑Idaho like to call Comic Frenzy.

Comic Frenzy, which made its winter semester debut on Jan. 19 and 20, is an improvisational comedy show that features nine BYU‑I students taking suggestions from the audience and making up funny scenes, songs and characters on the spot.

Comic Frenzy took on two new members this semester: Meredith Bellows, a junior from Bellevue, Neb., and Curtis McOsker, a sophomore from Dillon, Mont., who both learned about Comic Frenzy through friends and were encouraged to try out for auditions.

I had gone and seen it, and I wanted to be part of it, McOsker said.

Tryouts for any team can be stressful, but not with Comic Frenzy, Bellows said.

Tryouts were actually really fun because everyone was so nice.

One of the things Bellows and McOsker have learned is the importance of working as a team in Comic Frenzy.

It’s the attitude of working together that makes it really something special, McOsker said. If you go to a show, you can see that everyone has their own unique qualities that they bring.

But while unique qualities abound onstage, the performance is a team effort.

It’s about creating a scene and a character, not Look at me! I’m funny! Bellows said.

Some comedians draw their inspiration from other comedians, but not Bellows.

I get inspired by everyday things, Bellows said. Like awkward moments. I’m awkward.

Being a member of Comic Frenzy has changed Bellows’ outlook on social interactions.

Now I’m looking at things and thinking That was funny and I can use that, Bellows said.

Both Bellows and McOsker say they have already learned a lot from the veteran members of Comic Frenzy.

They all have so much experience behind them, McOsker said.

If someone ran into Bellows or McOsker on campus, would they be able to tell right away that they are members of Comic Frenzy? According to them: probably not.

You can’t be crazy all the time, Bellows said.

Comic Frenzy has more shows coming up this semester. The next shows are on Feb. 2 and 3, and on Mar. 3, during Mothers Weekend. Tickets for the Mothers Weekend show can be purchased through the ticket office.