Oy Ha Ha Ha: Boston based Jewish comedy team performs along with UMass student improv group

By: Andrew Sheridan, Collegian Correspondent
Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: Arts & Living

Media Credit: Courtesy myspace.com/lightnightplayers"The Late Night Players" comedy style is similar to the television show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?," but with more political references and specialized jokes for the current venue.

On Tuesday night the Earthfoods café in the Student Union played host to a very funny group of young Hebrews called the Late Night Players. The Players are a traveling sketch-comedy troupe with sharp wit and a flair for the ridiculous.

Based in Boston, they travel the country, touring mostly college campuses and similar arenas.

"We like an intimate venue," said Aaron Kagan, one of the group's members. "This kind of crowd is cool."

The atmosphere certainly was an interesting one. Healthy snack foods covered the tables that were set up dinner-theater style and upbeat hip-hop played at every spare moment.

The evening was kicked off by Mission: IMPROVable, the University of Massachusetts student improvisational comedy group. Their act consisted of five members who relied heavily on audience participation and suggestions for their zany, on-the-spot skits.

Mission: IMPROVable puts on a free performance in Herter hall every Saturday night at 8 p.m. After 30 minutes of games such as "multitask" and "story, story, die!" M:I bowed out to make way for the main act.

The Late Night Players were energetic and enthusiastic, and although only three of the four players were present, they never missed a beat. Right off the bat they announced their intentions to perform sketches, music and Jewish jokes, as well as make fun of UMass.

The University was the main target of their humor, and they ripped into the school with fervor. They wrote a new school fight song, made fun of building names (why is it called "the cage" anyway?), and acted out anagrams of the school's name. Other sketches spoofed cell phone companies, "the worm" and the Chinese zodiac.

The event was organized by the Jewish Student Union and UMass Hillel - and it showed. The skits took on a decidedly Hebrew edge, something they do "usually only when it's Hillel sponsored" said Kagan. "[Our act] is mostly secular, but Judaism and comedy are inseparable."

One sketch involved a time traveling Israelite named Shpelky, while another invited audience members to come up on stage and identify the uses of the word "oy" in pop culture.

The crowd was very responsive, chanting along with Zach Sherwin's Wu-tang Clan tribute rap and cheering enthusiastically. Audience participation rounded out the experience, as they asked those assembled for suggestions in the style of former television show "Whose Line is it Anyway?"

All kidding aside, UMass Amherst holds a special place in the hearts of the Late Night Players. "We've been coming here a long time," said Kagan. "It figured earlier in our work."

While still performing as a student group at Brandeis University, the Players would often come to Amherst to take part in Improv Jams put on by Mission: IMPROVable. They fondly recall performing at the Monkey Bar, honing their skills in the comic arts.

The event, keeping with the Late Night Players ridiculous style, ended with a flashy dance-off complete with disco ball and lighting.

Altogether it was a grand affair on a small scale. The Players filled out their act with religious humor, social commentary, and just a splash of fake blood. The Hillel, as well as most of the small audience, considered the event a success and plan on having the group perform here again in the future.

Andrew Sheridan can be reached at asher1@student.umass.edu.