“Improv Type Stuff” was a fitting name for the monthly performance of Subject to Change, Grand Valley State University’s improv club. The show, which had an only two dollar cover charge, was held Friday, Nov. 8, at the Kirkhof Center.
Like many improv shows, Subject to Change decides on a variety of “games” that they will play during a show. The scenes that play out have certain rules or gimmicks that the group’s participants, and the audience, are expected to interact with. Beyond the game rules, everything is completely improvised and set up to invoke audience suggestions, participation and laughter.
“What goes into it is not what the games will look like, it’s what games we’re going to play,” said Jacob Jahshan, Subject to Change’s Promotions Officer. “Because it is still improv, we don’t know what the (audience) suggestions are going to be. That’s the fun of it.”
One of the games they played during “Improv Type Stuff” involved a bucket of audience suggestions and a family vacation in Saskatchewan–improv members had to stop whatever they were acting out and say what the audience-written suggestions were on a whim. Another skit involved a story about a snowman who changed from spooky to sensual at the sound of a bell, which had the audience laughing all night.
“Every time we get out there as a team, (I see) more smiles on more faces than (I see) any other time of the week,” Jahshan said. “I also just love seeing the crowd’s faces and how happy they are. It’s really a good chance to bring a community at Grand Valley together.”
Katherine Rottach, a student at GVSU, has attended the improv group’s shows for the last four years, and their Nov. 8 show was no exception.
“I would say that (Subject to Change) is probably the best two dollars that you can spend (for an) hour and a half (or) two hours of entertainment,” Rottach said.
During the show’s final game, the improv team pulled Rottach from the audience for an interview, where they then enacted a 15-minute scene that poked fun at her current writing project. Rottach said she had anticipated this, having seen them test the game at their previous shows. Everyone, including Rottach, was overcome by hysteric laughter.
Ishmael Nash, the club’s secretarial officer, believes their shows to be well worth the fee.
“Personally, it’s one of my favorite parts of being here at GVSU,” Nash said. “Just come out, have some fun, have some laughs (and) relieve some stress. It’s pretty great.”
According to Jahshan, the club, which is in its 12th year, is continuing to grow. He emphasized that he is eager for more people to take part in the improv experience– either by being on stage or in the audience.
“I think the more people that know about it, the better,” Jahshan said. “(Bringing attention to the group) helps (by) giving us the opportunity to show people how they can have a good Friday night and really just laugh their butts off.”
The improv group will continue to hold monthly shows, and will be holding new member tryouts during the winter semester in an attempt to grow the comedic talent that is literally “subject to change.”
