Like its predecessors, this year's "Keenan Revue" is offensively funny
By MERIDETH PIERCE
Scene Writer
It might be surrounded in controversy, but it is here, and ... It is funny.
The 25th anniversary of the "SMC-Tacular Keenan Revue" will be held in the newly renovated O'Laughlin auditorium tonight, Friday and Saturday at 7:30. If you do not already have your tickets for the popular and controversial show, you will have to hear about it from your friends. Last week 500 tickets were freely handed out to students at Saint Mary's in 10 minutes. The remaining 1,500 tickets were handed out at Notre Dame in less than 30 minutes.
The 2001 Keenan Revue required much more planning than many would think. The Revue demanded that the planning process begin at the end of last school year.
The boys of Keenan wrote roughly 2,800 letters to alumni asking for donations. They still came up about $5,000 short of the $11,500 cost of the production.
The real crunch time for the group came after Christmas break when 75 skits auditioned for the show and under 25 were chosen to actually perform.
Originally formed in 1976 by Keenan RAs Tom Lenz and Rick Thomas, the Revue was meant to be a fun, non-alcoholic alternative to partying in Michigan where the legal drinking age was 18. Today, director Grant Gholson says the revue serves to "entertain students, and to make fools of ourselves."
After seeing the Revue, it does exactly that.
One of the main writers, Ryan Cunningham, guarantees the "same quality of Keenan Revue humor" as seen before.
For those who did not see the show in previous years, the Keenan Revue humor could be defined as witty but asinine, where no joke is too low and the source of censorship is from the good rector himself. This was obvious in the opening song, which is quoted "recycled old bits, guys in fake tits." The words are complemented with a surprisingly coordinated dance routine that ends with the dancers in less clothing than they first appeared wearing.
There are many popular topics of humor this year in the revue. In a skit called "Behind the Music," the steps of the Notre Dame Marching Band are traced through history. This hysterical historical telling comes complete with huge projected pictures accompanied by clever captions from the storyteller.
In another skit, the audience is deceived by the sweet piano player who plays and sings sensitively. It is very important to pay attention to the words here for you will find the entire song is about a cross-dressing man named Barry who loves his velvet underwear. The humor in this skit is found in the seriousness of the performers, and it makes for a very good laugh.
Many times the funny side of the skits is found in its scarylikeness to real life. Whereas you may never really see something as extreme as the stuff on the stage, your finishing thought is, "that is so true."
This is found in "Defense of Honor" as two guys beat each other for no apparent reason. It is also found in the especially funny "DART 2001." One can only imagine the venues for humor with DART.
Because they reach for every angle, some skits are slightly questionable. But some skits are just so stupid that they become, in turn, quite funny. This category would include the short "Wheel Chair Bit" and "The Happy Warbler Impressions Troupe." The Keenan members leave the stage while you laugh wondering, "what in the world...?"
Even if you are a tough audience member, the uncontrollably funny "Why Keenan Men Shouldn't do Ballet" will at least crack a smile on your face. Without ruining the surprise of the skit, just imagine four men sharing their secret love of ballet, and then performing it in tight leotards.
Next to Keenan boys doing ballet, two other skits stand out as the most humorous. One called "Natural 5" is Keenan's own traditional boy band. It really is something you need to see. It is performed complete with cordless head mikes and pre-recorded music.
The final skit of the evening, called "Uncomfortable Situations," provides a way out for anyone who has felt mocked or ridiculed in the course of the evening. If at any point in the show you have found yourself offended in any way, shape or form, just wait. This last skit uses all forms of cheap and dirty humor. The entirety of Keenan Hall might as well be on stage begging you to laugh at them, not with them.
If you think you will attend the Keenan Revue not for its humor but for its talent, you just might find some of that in the bands that play at the beginning and end of the acts. The music is a refreshing addition in comparison to the crass skits. The boys rendition of "Run Around Sue" is in fact very cute and a good end to the first act.
However, the main idea behind the Keenan Revue is its low-balled "Saturday Night Live" type of humor. It is not about the entire dorm of Keenan bashing all the aspects of their college lives that have any potential for humor. Almost everyone and everything is mocked in some form in the course of the evening. If you are a person to laugh with the people on stage, then the Keenan Revue is for you. You might even love it so much that you will want your very own $10 Keenan Revue T-shirt.
All Scene Stories for Thursday, February 1, 2001
