Hawaii Sketch Fest

• March 30, 2015
• Comedy, Hawaii, Sketch

“Hey,  I’d like to pretend to have a heart attack while a room full of friends and strangers watch for their entertainment,”  said no one ever.  Well,  that’s exactly what I did this weekend and I have to say it was quite liberating.  Most everyone’s biggest fear is dying on stage and now that I’ve gotten that out of the way I can move forward.

This weekend was the very first Hawaii Sketch Comedy Festival which gave local and national performers the opportunity to showcase their unique brand of humor generating prowess  ( did you know that was a thing?  Because I didn’t until just now ).  Live sketches,  videos,  musical comedy,  and singer song-writers played seamlessly both nights at Doris Duke Theater in downtown Honolulu.  The festival also included a variety of workshops on improvisational comedy,  developing original characters,  and sketch writing.

 

I played on a new team called Goof Troop Riot,  a name which many have confirmed can’t be said without singing it to the melody of “Zoot Suit Riot.”  If you know the song,  go ahead,  I’ll wait.  Gorgeous.

 

 

We were the festival’s first start-up team,  who up until this weekend were pretty new to sketch comedy.  The goal was to write and perform 2 live sketches and film 2 original videos.

The 2 live sketches,  both skillfully penned by Trevor Danielson,  were a comment on technology and society.  Here’s a little excerpt of the sketch called “Totally Good Samaritan” where I got to go all coronary failure:

 

EXT: TWO MEN (JAMES AND HEART ATTACK MAN) WAITING ON A BENCH AT BUS STOP

MAN:

Looks like the 23 is running late again…

JAMES GIVES ONLY A SLIGHT NOD WHILE TAPPING ON HIS PHONE. THEN MAN BEGINS TO COUGH VIOLENTLY AND CLUTCH HIS CHEST.

JAMES:

OMG Are you ok?

MAN:

I think I’m having a heart attack

JAMES:

Ok just stay calm.  You’re gonna be fine.  I have a couple of paramedics following me,  ok.

MAN:

Paramedics followed you here? Are you an ambulance driver…?

JAMES:

No,  they didn’t follow me here,  they’re following me on Instagram!   But with the right filter and how pale your face is right now,  they’re not gonna like this pic….they’re gonna love it!

JAMES SNAPS A PICTURE OF MAN AND BEGINS TAPPING HIS PHONE

 

What I’m starting to appreciate more about comedy is the endless avenues that exist to achieve its goals.  Whatever our passions are,  not limiting ourselves is a healthy and fun ( scary,  humbling )  way to discover new expressions and stay creative.  You can get attached to labels quickly in comedy and in life.  Oh,  he’s a stand-up,  she’s an improviser,  there’s that juggling mime on the invisible unicycle again.  Well first I was just me so I think I’ll keep that on a business card.  Anthony Silano:  Human man.  Likes ice-cream.  Call me.

What really struck me about Sketch Fest was the various backgrounds of the performers.  Broadway singers,  musicians,  actors,  and film makers who’ve found their comedic niche,  along with working professionals benefitting from a positive outlet.  On our team alone we have salespeople,  businessmen and women,  a chaplain (WHAT?!),  2 teachers,  and a principal.

 

 

I really believe that for every personality type there’s an outlet for your unique sense of humor.  Whether it’s behind the scenes,  in conversations,  editing videos,  writing,  or on stage.  You may look at people on stage and say “I could never do that.”  Well believe you me,  I can’t either,  not naturally anyway.  My stomach isn’t wired to feel perfectly at ease before a performance.  It’s a fairly common experience.  Circus seals seem fine with it,  but if they could talk I’m sure they’d express some discontent.  Is getting a treat afterwards worth balancing a ball on your face?  I don’t know,  I don’t speak seal.

I do know I appreciate the opportunity to try new things and see all the different ways people work very hard to bring a little joy into this world.  Being backstage gives you a small glimpse of that reality.  Guitars tuning.  Vocal warm-ups.  A man in a white sheet paces back and forth practicing his best God voice.  Crumpled scripts held tight by nervous hands.

It’s amazing to see the process of an idea transform into something tangible others can enjoy.

That’s it,  stop reading this and go hug the artists in your life.  If it looks like they’re spacing out,  chances are they’re dreaming about their next performance.

 

 

Bonus Feature

Well,  far be it from me to talk about videos and not post one.  To my family:  don’t worry,  I don’t really own one of these storage units. ( Yet )

 

Congrats to Kimee Balmilero, improvhi, and storyuarts for their successful First Hawaii Sketch Fest!

• Circus seal
• Hawaii Sketch Fest
• humor
• Sketch Comedy
• Totally Good Samaritan