So, Geoff and I met the Harvard Sailing Team comedy troupe in the lobby of WCIV-TV waiting for our television debut and they were good sports, letting us interview and film them. We did our bit, they came on after (thank goodness: No one likes to follow professionals.)
On Wednesday, when I’m debating what to go see, I finally decide I should catch their show at the American Theater, part of Piccolo Fringe. As I’m circling around trying to find a parking spot (ignoring my own advice to take a bike) I see Adam Lustick, Sara Taylor and Billy Scafuri walking down the street.
I offer them a ride in my messy car (I really should listen to my mother) and I park illegally to drop them off. I find a good spot, hit the door and then cool my heels waiting to make sure there is enough room in the theater for a non-paying, press-pass-carrying SpoJo to go in. I get the word I’m good, I buy some refreshment and queue up to get in. I meet some very nice people from Pennsylvania and we all stand in the warm hallway waiting for “technical difficulties” to be solved so we can be seated. At last, we get the OK, we file in, take our seats and wait for the magic. (Turns out there was a glitch in turning on the sound board…)
I’ll confess that I wasn’t blown away by the bit the team did on Lowcountry Live. I think they were having us on, because it wasn’t the least bit indicative of their show. It fits in nicely as part of the whole. And the whole rocks. Completely. I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes. I think I almost fell out of my chair once.
They are smart and physical, lampooning modern culture with an underlying edge that bites. I can’t even begin to tell you how funny the skit involving three modern girls and an old-fashioned phone is (It’s not a phone; you can’t text on it.) Or they way they skewer ice-skating competitions. Or a pizza commercial director. Disney isn’t even safe.
I always look for the star, and the truth is there really isn’t a weak link. They sing and dance and use music in a way that’s slick without being processed. They’re billed as “Clean-Cut” and, true, there is nothing sexual or profane, but don’t be misled, the humor is definitely not childish.
Don’t miss them. They are here through Saturday.
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And Saturday is a special show… Harvard Sailing Team are doing a “Best of Charleston” night on the 31st. They’ve asked audience members to pick their favorite sketches from HST shows that have been performed here in the past - that’s about 28 skits to choose from, not counting the ones from this year’s Fringe.
The most-voted will be performed on Saturday. I hope they do their version of “West Side Story” (the Spiders rumble with the Comfy Hammocks) and “Cat Talk” (a basement-hosted cat chat show).
- Nick Smith