Courier Staff Writer

CEDAR FALLS

They're funny, quick-witted and their audience has no idea what's coming next.

That's OK. Neither do the University of Northern Iowa student performers in the newly formed comedy improv troupe called Half-Masted 3.2.

Directed by UNI math professor Doug Shaw, the 15 troupe members showed off their improvisational skills before an audience for the first time Thursday. They were rewarded with constant laughter from those in attendance at Lang Hall.

"They were really with us the whole time," said troupe member Chris Anderson. "They kept the energy going for us."

Shaw agreed.

"We were very pleased with the performance, and we're happy the audience had a good time," Shaw said. "Everyone was happy with how we did as a troupe - that all the work paid off."

The success of their shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of last week has them thinking of more. There will be at least one more show this semester, though there is talk of taking their act off campus.

"The troupe will discuss it," Shaw said. "There definitely will be another show this semester as part of UNI. As students, they have other commitments and I don't yet know how far they want to take it. At this point, I absolutely think this troupe can go places."

Performers must act out scenarios given to them almost instantly and deliver funny lines as well. It's an adrenaline rush, but there's always that chance of freezing.

"It's exciting because it's a challenge," said Erin Carter, a troupe member from Sioux City. "It's not scripted theater. You're not standing up there with a safety net."

In one scenario members were asked to act out scenes from a fictitious movie, the name of which was provided by audience members. The audience also chose the country the film was made in. The performers acted out the scenes, faking the language, while other troupe members to the side deliver subtitle lines in English.

Many people may think of the TV show "Who's Line is it Anyway?" when speaking of improv, although this troupe doesn't like the comparisons.

"It's like 'Who's Line is it Anyway?' except that we don't shoot six hours of stuff and then use the best takes," Shaw said. "Another difference is, this troupe is funny."

Last week's performances proved that

"We had a blast," Anderson said. "Nothing really bombed. After the first night we just kind of went crazy for a while, running around trying to organize something to do afterward to wind down. Even that was crazy. Everyone still had the adrenaline pumping pretty hard."

Before their initial performance, Missie Collins, a freshman from Eldora, felt the shows would go well.

"I'm not nervous because we've never bombed in practice," she said. "We're confident."

Shaw was in two different live theater troupes in Minneapolis over a seven-year period. He tired of the commute to the Twin Cities and recently looked into starting a troupe at UNI. The cast was selected from 40 hopefuls during auditions in January.

"I saw these kids and it was better than I thought," Shaw said. "I wouldn't be embarrassed putting them into a show in Minneapolis in front of a paying audience."

The group has been getting together two or three times a week since January. Some would call it practice. Others would call it a group of new friends hanging out and having some laughs.

"We're learning about each other and learning to play off each other's strengths," said Mike Schminke, a troupe member from Fort Dodge.

The practices often turn into social gatherings as friendships have been formed over the past couple months.

"Yes, we're all very popular now," Schminke quipped.

"I wish this was a job," Collins added. "I like hanging out with crazy people."