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ComedySportz – New venue offers better view, lots of laughs
Story and photos by MELISSA E. KOSS
A grown man was wearing a blue tutu when I pulled into the parking lot. He pirouetted to my parking spot and, I think, attempted a plié. He calls himself the Ballet Parker, and he was my maitre d' for the evening's event: ComedySportz.
ComedySportz – which began in Milwaukee in 1984 and now has presence in 19 cities in the U.S. as well as the UK and Ireland – moved into its new space on South First Street in July.
THE NEW SPACE
The space is more apt as a ComedySportz venue than their former space. The seating is stadium-style, allowing for equal-opportunity viewing of the playing field, which itself is dually suited for ComedySportz. Their former set looked as though slamming the door one more time might cause the whole thing to fall down around the players. The new arena has prep area on either side of the field equipped with costumes and props, and plenty of room for the players to change into dresses, wigs and hats.
My only complaint about the new space is architectural: the lack of automatic flow. For example, in the old space, the audience was forced out one door into the bar area where the players were waiting to be congratulated on another great show. In the new space, I felt lost and hopeless when the show ended, not quite knowing where to go. And once I was in the bar area, it felt segmented from the rest of the space and not nearly as welcoming as before. The bar is set back, hidden by a half wall. However, the new bar is less townie and more cosmopolitan with candles at the tables, flat screen televisions and soothing blue walls.
If, like me, you feel a little lost, though, during the show there is a wait staff in the arena serving drinks and food from "Le Menu," including Le Hot Arf with fries and grilled Le Cluck sandwich.
HOW COMEDYSPORTZ WORKS
As ComedySportz views itself as a sporting event, the playing field is covered in Astroturf, the games are judged by a referee (as well as the audience's ratings, determined on a clap-o-meter). A score is kept, and teams (made up of three "actletes") wear jerseys to establish allegiances. Competition begins with a coin toss and singing of "The Star Spangled Banner."
Play is made up of several rounds of improvisational games, which are judged by both audience and the referee. My favorite of the games played is called Products International. In this game, players exchange dialogue about a topic chosen by the audience, but the catch is that every line must end in a product name. For example, if the product is soda, a conversation like this might happen: Player 1: "I saw your girlfriend the other day. She looks like she was Sunkist." Player 2: "Yah man, she's Jolly Good."
Audience participation is an absolute must. Games are almost fully dependent on audience suggestions. And of course, audience approval is important to the players. The audience demonstrates this approval through raucous laughter, screaming, slapping of the knees, etc. Audience members are often invited to actively participate in games, which makes ComedySportz particularly attractive for extroverts or drunks or birthday celebrations.
R-RATED COMEDYSPORTZ
ComedySportz shows are rated PG-13, and considered a family event. However, every other Saturday at midnight, ComedySportz offers an R-rated show known as Cock 'n' Toast. Cock 'n' Toast's motto is "Equal opportunity offenders,ä and no group is safe from being attacked through comedy. You must be 18 or older to enter the show, which is $5 (a $2.50 to $7 savings from other shows). The next show is Feb. 12, and for more information visit www.cockntoast.com.
Penalties in ComedySportz regular play:
1. The Groaner: If the audience groans for any reason, the offender must issue an apology; however, if the audience does not accept the apology, the offending team loses a point.
2. Hesitation: Play ends if an actlete hesitates.
3. Potty Mouth Foul: Obscenities of any variety will not be tolerated by ComedySportz (except during Cock 'n' Toast shows). The player's punishment for a Potty Mouth Foul is the embarrassment of wearing a toilet seat around his or her neck for the rest of the scene. Please note: This punishment is applicable to audience members as well.
ComedySportz
420 S. First Street
Milwaukee, WI 53204
414.272.8888
www.comedysportzmilwaukee.com
Thursday 7:30 p.m., $10
Friday and Saturday 7:30 and 10 p.m., $12
Saturday matinee at 3 pm, $7.50
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