Never could I have ever predicted sitting in the audience before an 11 year old girl asking Justin Timberlake to copulate with her. However, this was the titular scene from Stockton’s production of Crumble (Lay Me Down Justin Timberlake). The show told the story of a distressed mother, mentally scarred 11-year-old, cat-obsessed aunt, and a vengeful apartment. Needless to say, it was an interesting show.

I went into the show not really knowing what I was about to see. Given the rather outlandish title, I was expecting a lighthearted, funny show. I was pleasantly surprised that the show was laugh out loud hilarious at some points, while being thought-provokingly depressing at others. In my opinion, the show was a total success. I had never seen a college level theatrical production before, so I was blown away. First of all, the acting was fantastic-from the quirky aunt and her 57 cats to the homicidal, horny apartment who admits to murdering the father and husband of its current inhabitants. The sets, too, were incredibly detailed. It was even more impressive when I consider that it was completely designed by Stockton students. One thing that really topped it off was the lighting. I have been in several productions throughout my high-school career and I have never seen lighting anywhere near this caliber. It was downright professional. Another encouraging sign was seeing how many fellow honors students (and teachers) came out to support a member of the honors community who was performing in the show.

The show made a dramatic impression on me and my friends as we have been quoting its more humorous parts for the past few weeks. The show was a brilliant piece of art that portrayed a meticulously crafted image of women and family dynamics. I commend the actors and crew on a fantastic job, and I can’t wait to see more shows at Stockton!

I almost didn’t go to see Nicole Byer and Kevin Barnett, but I am so happy that I did. It was so great to see how many people came out to support homecoming weekend. I got there exactly one hour before so that I could get a front row seat; so naturally I ended up in the back of the bleachers. Looking, no begging for and way to sit closer, my group of friends and I were approached by the coordinator of the event. He offered us a deal; if we helped move the chairs up towards the stage, we could get a front row seat. Suddenly a group of lazy college freshman transformed into a highly motivated workforce. Our valiant efforts were rewarded with a front row seat.

I don’t think I’ve ever encountered such offensive material in my life; I loved every minute of it. From distasteful genitalia jokes, to racial stereotypes, to mocking drugs and weight issues; I was shocked that some people didn’t get up and walk out. While Byer and Barnett might not have been the best choice for homecoming and “family” weekend, they certainly appealed to a gymnasium full of college students. Being in the front row, it was inevitable that we would be picked on by at least one of the comedians. So naturally Nicole Byer singled me out for a few rather inappropriate jokes that would be unfit for a tasteful honors blog post.

Regardless of how crude or offensive the comedy was (I know some found it extremely offensive) it was all in good fun and it proved a hilarious night for most.

Drew Bencie

The Stockton Theater Club’s Whose Line is it Anyway Performances are probably my favorite student organized events on campus. Whose Line is an improvisational comedy show in which all of the actions and dialogue are made up on the spot. They are consistently hilarious and always entertaining to the point where I have invited friends over just to come see it. One thing that made this past Whose Line especially great is the fact that two girls that live in my building were performing in it for the first time. Nearly the entire building came out to support them. They all sat front row, with signs held high, cheering on their friends. It’s amazing to think about it, really. Just a month ago, all we knew about one other was a name, major, and whatever interesting fact came up during an ice-breaker. Just a few weeks later, we all packed together into an auditorium to laugh hysterically at people that didn’t exist in our lives until a short while ago. The Whose Line nights have a way of bringing people together for a common purpose: laughter.
One of the best parts of this event is seeing how your suggestions, whether written or yelled, are incorporated into the show. The level of interaction with the audience is undoubtedly an impressive component to the show. The ability to think and adapt to new suggestions while remaining upbeat and entertaining is a true testament to how talented the actors and actresses in the Whose Line performances are.
Without a doubt, I will be going to the Whose Line nights for the rest of my time here. To anyone reading, I cannot recommend them enough. They are a great time, with great people doing some really funny stuff. They are definitely something you will regret missing.