By MARY FLEMING
Divine Comedy is a comedy vortex that just sucks you in, said Ben Unguren, a sophomore from Seattle majoring in film. Unguren is one of the talented members of this BYU club.
Once you are in this vortex, he said, you can’t get out. Unguren explained the whole process, and he even drew a picture of the whirlpool effect.
Divine Comedy has performed at BYU since 1994 and is “the best kept secret on campus,” according to a reviewer for the Daily Herald.
The nine members of the club write their own material. In practice, much of the humorous material is added in on improvisation and then incorporated into the script, said member Brandon Mull. Mull is a junior from Thousand Oaks, Calif., majoring in public relations.
I saw them twice last semester. The energy seized the audience from the beginning with loved-but-lost music clips. These clips included songs from the ’80s to the Duck Tales theme. One played during each short scene change.
I personally was elated to hear such fun music.
Many of the skits were tailored to the Latter-day Saint and BYU lifestyle. One of my favorites included a fight between a BYU student (Unguren) and the BYU registration computer voiced by Jason Smith, a junior from Idaho Falls, Idaho, majoring in computer science.
Unguren attempts to register for his fall classes. When the requested section is full, he presses the pound key to list available sections. But the only available class is MWF from 2 a.m to 3 a.m.! Sound familiar?
Frustration sets in and he yells at the computer. The computer calmly responds, “All of your classes have been dropped. Enter an action code now.”
The group manages to capture the frustrations of BYU life from dating to the Testing Center. And they present it in an overdramatized yet ironically true light that strikes at the heart of fun.
The audience laughed the entire show. And according to Unguren, people burn two calories with each laugh.
“We’re just looking out for people’s health,” said Ryan Hamilton, a senior from Mesa, Ariz., majoring in physics.
The energy and antics of each member makes the entire show a success.
The material is clean and appropriate. The club has a rule that if anyone in the group feel uncomfortable with a part of a skit, they don’t do it, said Suzanne Daines, a senior from Detroit majoring in psychology.
Divine Comedy is non-profit organization and much of the money earned goes back to the audience, said Hamilton. During the performances the cast gives away free T-shirts, among other prizes.
Divine Comedy will perform two shows in 151 TNRB Friday evening at 8 and 10. Advanced tickets are on sale in 3326 ELWC.
