'Super Happy Fun Big' laughs abound

The Cal Poly improv comedy group Smile and Nod is starting one of their most exciting quarters out on a high note.

On Saturday night, they performed in their Super Happy Fun Big Show, which was a longer version of their usual improv shows. The event was a fundraiser that was held in connection with the Friends and Alumni Network of Supporters, a group of theater department alumni.

In an interview before the show on Friday, graduating team member Stephanie “Tanner” Agron, a senior theater major, said that the event was a chance for them to showcase some of their most talented members.

“It’s been interesting to see the transformation over the past four years,” Agron said. “The team has really matured.”

Agron said that over her four years on the team, they went from a small group to a large group doing a wide variety of improv. By taking on a few new members every quarter, the group has the opportunity to increase its numbers and add new personalities to their shows.

“For the new members and the team, this is a time of transition where we throw things at them to see what they can do,” said Kelsi Copeland, a junior history major who has been on the team for two years.

Copeland said that one of her favorite experiences since joining the team has been learning to be a referee. This job involves introducing the many improv games that the team plays during shows and generally directing the action.

“Learning to be a good ref is something special because just doing improv is hard enough,” Copeland said.

The team provides a great opportunity for its members to learn many different aspects of this type of performing. They do two main types of improv, short form which is a series of games that last a few minutes, and long form, which are longer scenes.

“I’m still trying to be more confident with long form,” said Audrey Rufe, a junior history major who has been on the team for two years.

Rufe said that initially, the short form is hard enough to master, and so the scenes from long form require more practice and skill. One of the best learning experiences for this form is when the team travels to Scotland every other year.

There they participate in a festival that not only gives them a chance to work on their art, but also to learn from other improv teams.

“You see (improv) differently from how you normally do it, and it’s cool to see that it’s a universal form of entertainment,” Rufe said.

Rufe said the secret to improving is constant practice, because there is no real way to teach the skill of improv since it is different every time.

“It’s doing it over and over again and getting used to developing ideas out of suggestions,” Rufe said.

All three agreed that improv is a hard but rewarding type of performance for them, and said that the entire team works hard to put on each show they do. Their reward is not only the enjoyment they get out of performing, but also the entertainment they bring to their audiences.

“I always feel that we love and need people to come to the shows,” Copeland said.

Smile and Nod holds performances each Saturday night at 8 p.m. in the Cal Poly Black Box Theater, which is located in the H.P Davidson Music Center room 212. Tickets are five dollars and are available at the door or through presale on their Web site www.smileandnod.org.