2008 Woodie Awards
Stevens Dramatic Society holds Off Center performance
Regina Pynn
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Campus Life
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Off Center, Stevens' sketch comedy troupe, performed its first show Friday, September 21st, to a full audience in the Bissinger Room. The group, a subset of Stevens' Dramatic Society, has been known, in the past, for its sketches that sometimes blurred the line between outrageous humor and bad taste. Yet, this first show of the year successfully combined outrageous humor with unexpected surprises, to the delight of the crowd.
In the past, Off Center was plagued by skits that ended with actors abruptly leaving the stage, leaving the audience confused. The group seems to have resolved that issue, and sketches ended on hilarious final notes that showed some real originality. One skit featured inspectors from OSHA (played by sophomores William Estes and Frank Riccobono) visiting Willy Wonka (Gus Rath) and his chocolate factory, culminating with the Oompa Loompas kidnapping the unfortunate inspectors. Instead of simply dashing offstage, however, the "workers" chanted an original version of "The Oompa Loompa Song" as they carried away the inspectors. The song showed excellent writing and rang true to the nature of the movie the spoof was based on. This loyalty to the spirit of the things being spoofed has been one of the troupe's strengths, and it was on display throughout all of the skits.
Off Center alumnus and director Dylan Edgar ('07) said that Estes and Riccobono were two of the key players responsible for the increase in Off Center's quality.
"As we're having the old guard [of original Off Center people] leave, we have this new crop of talent in guys like Will and Frank. I feel bad for anyone who doesn't get out to see them."
Daniel Ready, "Smee" of the show, gave credit for the originality to the writers. "It's all up to the writers…it's the writers who take the show in whatever direction you want to go. It brings different perspectives." "Smee" and "Captain Hook" are the official names for the Head Writer and Leader of Off Center, as mandated by their recently revised constitution.
In the past, Off Center was plagued by skits that ended with actors abruptly leaving the stage, leaving the audience confused. The group seems to have resolved that issue, and sketches ended on hilarious final notes that showed some real originality. One skit featured inspectors from OSHA (played by sophomores William Estes and Frank Riccobono) visiting Willy Wonka (Gus Rath) and his chocolate factory, culminating with the Oompa Loompas kidnapping the unfortunate inspectors. Instead of simply dashing offstage, however, the "workers" chanted an original version of "The Oompa Loompa Song" as they carried away the inspectors. The song showed excellent writing and rang true to the nature of the movie the spoof was based on. This loyalty to the spirit of the things being spoofed has been one of the troupe's strengths, and it was on display throughout all of the skits.
Off Center alumnus and director Dylan Edgar ('07) said that Estes and Riccobono were two of the key players responsible for the increase in Off Center's quality.
"As we're having the old guard [of original Off Center people] leave, we have this new crop of talent in guys like Will and Frank. I feel bad for anyone who doesn't get out to see them."
Daniel Ready, "Smee" of the show, gave credit for the originality to the writers. "It's all up to the writers…it's the writers who take the show in whatever direction you want to go. It brings different perspectives." "Smee" and "Captain Hook" are the official names for the Head Writer and Leader of Off Center, as mandated by their recently revised constitution.