By Hilarie Laukat
Just after midnight on Nov. 21 2008, the cast and crew of BYU''s popular sketch comedy group, Divine Comedy, crowded the back row of a movie theater to see the premiere of 'Twilight,' Stephanie Meyer''s vampire fantasy novel in motion picture format. Members of the group were, to say the least, inspired.
This weekend, Divine Comedy will present their sketch version of Meyer''s story, incorporating BYU spoofs customary of the group''s style. Tickets for the show, titled 'TwYlight,' are sold out, and desperate fans without them will have to bribe those with extras for a chance to see one of the shows on Friday and Saturday nights in the Varsity Theatre at 7 and 9 p.m.
'There was a lot of input on this script,' said Matt Meese, a second-year cast member of the group who wrote and edited 'TwYlight' with a few other members. 'Everyone really had a hand in the pie on this one, and all the good jokes eventually surfaced to the top.'
The day after Divine Comedy saw 'Twilight,' they decided to present an improv re-creation of the film for some friends and relatives. Thus began the conception of their February show.
'That''s how a lot of our humor develops,' said Sarah Kelly, co-president of Divine Comedy who plays Bella in the headliner. 'We spend a lot of time together outside of rehearsals ... and we laugh a lot.'
Members of the group laboriously write and re-write their scripts in an effort to capture the essence of what people actually remember about the movies they feature in their headliners. Cast and crew members said they try to focus on elements of the movie and aspects of BYU culture that resonate with their audiences.
'There were lots of versions written, but we ended up with the simplest one,' said Alex Greaves, a Divine Comedy house manager. 'The vampires are just vampires, but they make quite a stir at BYU.'
Members of Divine Comedy are sure their audiences will relate to 'TwYlight.' For the first time ever, the group will show a sneak peek of their March headliner during this week''s show, featuring recent blockbuster hit, 'The Dark Knight.'