Keenan shows up at SMC, again
By COURTNEY KERRIGAN
Scene Writer
The Keenan Revue of 2000 promises to be an extremely entertaining and humorous spectacle that will successfully animate our little Notre Dame bubble. Mike Romanelli, the director of the Revue, said that this year it will be very impressive and that "even the people from The Observer will be amused."
At Monday night's first official rehearsal in O'Laughlin Auditorium at Saint Mary's, the atmosphere was buzzing with camaraderie, excitement and a little stress as the Keenanites prepared to enliven Notre Dame with their annual variety show.
Guys cracked jokes and reminisced about the Revue's past and whether or not this year's show would top some of the other great shows of the past. Ryan Cunningham, Matt Johnson and Kevin Carney sat looking at slides for the famous "Revue News," a sort of "Saturday Night Live" Weekend Update skit.
Four guitarists, two saxophonists, a drummer and two singers stood on the stage, not really knowing what to do with themselves, as the hired tech crew took its sweet time setting up for the first band to begin the rehearsal. Meanwhile, Johnson, the producer of this year's show, thought out loud to himself: "I can't believe I'm paying them this much money to stand around."
For those who are new to Notre Dame this year, sophomore Cunningham, one of the Revue's head writers, described the Revue as "a virtual cacophony of talent, humor and especially attractive men. It strives to continue the tradition of class, dignity, delight for people of all ages and fart jokes."
When the Revue started as an innocent variety show in 1977, it was held in the basement of Keenan. Its original purpose was to give back to the Notre Dame community through entertainment and of course, to make fun of it too. The budget was low, and the show was free. Life was simple.
Now, 24 shows later, a total of about 4,000 people come on three nights to see what has evolved into one of Notre Dame's biggest, and in recent years, more controversial, student-run events. The budget has grown to $11,000, but the tickets are still free — and that's the way Keenan wants it to stay — thanks to donations given by Keenan alumni. In fact, Johnson has been working since August to raise money.
A large amount of the money that is raised is spent on renting O'Laughlin Auditorium, hiring a professional technical crew, making T-shirts, advertising, printing the programs and throwing the dorm's SYR after the last show on Saturday night. Keenan tries to be resourceful with its budget, though. All props and costumes are borrowed or homemade. All of the participants in the show, including any "girls," are members of Keenan.
This year's show will include performances by the Keenan Band, vocalists and a pianist, about 20 comedy skits, four musical acts (look for a commendable rendition of Simon and Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson"), magic and other weird stuff that should make for a highly jocular and infinitely entertaining Revue. Although 80 different skits, and many hopeful Keenanites, tried out for the Revue this past weekend, less than 20 are actually part of the show.
What does Carney think of this year's show? "It rocks. Go Irish! Keenan rules," he said.
The Revue will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday at O'Laughlin Auditorium. The show should last about two and a half hours, because, as Johnson said, "We're not funny enough to go for three hours."
He also said to look forward to the following skits: "Little Oscar's Big Talent," "Five Finger Discount at NDH," "Jesus at the Backer," and of course, the producer and director's message. He added: "These are the highlights of this year's Revue, in my unbiased opinion as producer."
In past years, the Revue has run into a little controversy over some of the satirical material in their skits. However, Romanelli, Johnson and Father Chamberland, Keenan's rector, stress that everything is meant only as entertainment, in good fun and lightheartedness. Though, just to assure that the humor is in relatively good taste this year, there will be censors at rehearsals, two from Saint Mary's and one from Notre Dame, keeping the Keenanites in check.
As Cunningham stated: "When you're going to the Keenan Revue, and you're asking yourselves what time it is, the answer is `It's wacky time!'"
All Scene Stories for Wednesday, February 2, 2000
