Sheer Idiocy or The Rensselyrics? Idiots or Lyrics? Time to choose my poison. Saturday night held the answer to my indecisiveness, bringing both RPI groups to the Union’s McNeil Room in “Improvcappella.”
Carrie DePetris, who oddly enough has been involved in the last three groups on which I’ve written reviews, made it clear at the beginning of the show that she is the go-between for the Idiots and The Lyrics. To start the show, the audience was treated to a “crappy West Side Story show off,” deciding which group was to perform.
The Lyrics started the show, and I suddenly was hit with a feeling of déjà vu, as they sang the same song from RENT as last week, “What You Own,” with the same solos by Rich Davis and Christina Melicharek.
Davis seemed to have read my review of last week’s show, and decided not to pay heed to any mention of his off key-ness. The Lyrics were all wearing black tops, each with a red letter on the back spelling out the group’s name. I would like to make a special note of the pleather tube top Melicharek wore, giving kudos where they are deserved and wishing we could all be so brave.
In continuing with last week’s song line up, Sophie McKenney sang Mr. Mister’s “Kyrie Eleison”. The harmony was very good although the microphones were a little weak and McKenney was somewhat drowned out by the rest of the group.
After another song sung by Gary Yund, Paul Dalton took the lead singing James Taylor’s “Only One.” The Idiots decided it was time to play and came on during the song holding giant cards. A few seconds later Dalton’s performance was turned into a clip of VH-1’s popular series, Pop-Up Video.
Taking control of the stage when the song was over—finally—the Idiots played a game called “Pan-left, Pan-right.” Involving four group members and a noun for each of them provided by the audience, the leader of the game directed the four to turn either clockwise or counter clockwise. A rubber mallet, disgraceful shoelaces, a run away tractor trailer, and a pencil factory were all used in the madness.
The next game played was called “Bartender,” where three Idiots had personal problems —including a girlfriend whose jaw was stuck with peanut butter, psoriasis, and chocolate indigestion—and sang a song to the bartender asking for advice. Michael Hourihan provided for some good laughs with rather well thought-out solutions put to music.
Next up was a game involving some interesting antics about lemmings. Then Matt Duggan professed his love on stage in song to a female audience member named Rachael —a sophomore bio-informatics major who likes blue, but doesn’t do anything for fun—just in case all you single guys out there were curious. She seemed thoroughly embarrassed, which I think means the Idiots succeeded yet again.
During the intermission I noticed the show had pulled a decent sized crowd, including some inebriated fans of Sahir Azam, one of The Lyrics’ baritones, sitting behind me. I couldn’t tell if the rest of the crowd came to see The Lyrics or the Idiots, so I decided that it was really those schnazzy red chairs in the McNeil room that enticed them there.
After the intermission, the Idiots laid claim to the stage again, playing “Conduct-a-Gripe,” with four members complaining about centipedes and the conductor signaling them to get louder and quieter. I personally am terrified of centipedes, always have been, but I honestly don’t think their IQs are something to be angry about. Joey Faust on the other hand was very upset that the centipedes did better than him in mathematics.
After a few more games, The Lyrics were brought back to sing some more. DePetris performed “Ordinary Day” by Great Big Sea and Davis once again sang Stroke 9’s “Little Black Backpack.”
Finishing the show, the Idiots joined the Lyrics back on stage and Faust surprised everyone with Cake’s “Comfort Eagle.” Now I must admit, he didn’t lie, “Comfort Eagle” isn’t really singing, but I think it was close enough for all of us.
Overall, the Idiots and The Lyrics provided for yet another entertaining evening, almost like musical improv squared. Now anything squared has to be exciting!
