Activity Review: Attending Mad Cow’s “Improv Your Pants Off” show

Activity Review: Attending Mad Cow’s “Improv Your Pants Off” show

When it comes to finding exciting events to attend with friends, there are plenty of on-campus options which are both inexpensive and easy to access. A great way to support your peers and find high-quality entertainment is through attending the shows put on by Elizabethtown College’s performance groups. Most recently, Mad Cow Improv held an incredible show on Friday, Feb. 17 which drew a significant crowd of students and families looking for a fun way to kick off the weekend.

While Mad Cow Improv shows always have an element of the unexpected, Friday’s show was even more so than usual. The “Improv Your Pants Off” show has the audience picking the games for the night, making the show’s unpredictable to both the audience and group members. The audience picked a wide variety of games, from “Props” to “Pecking Order” to “723.” Each game has a different set of actors and hosts, also selected by the audience. Given the already unpredictable nature of improv shows, the added challenge from this most recent show truly showcased the talents of Mad Cow members, who created a funny, impressive show on the fly.

Mad Cow shows come highly recommended by the campus community. With hundreds of likes on their TikTok videos and a solid social media presence (including a fan club), the group has gained significant popularity in the local community. Shows typically have a solid audience, who come to see the group perform based on their suggestions. The atmosphere in the audience is friendly, excited and lighthearted as the community comes together for a night of laughter. Watching the crowd go wild to shout scene suggestions and jumping in with your own is fun enough on its own, and it’s exciting to see audience suggestions play out in real time. As the actors take to the stage, the way they are able to come up with jokes, one-liners and comical story lines is impressive and entertaining.

At this latest show, actors found themselves driving a school bus, heading to McDonald’s, solving an unusual crab problem at the aquarium and more. Cameos by John Fetterman, Squidward and Etown students had the audience in an uproar. The use of an eclectic mix of props, from a cowboy hat to a small baby doll, had actors coming up with unique, unexpected plot lines. The energy from the group was upbeat, pulling the audience in and keeping them hooked. Raffle prizes at the end of the show, including signed posters and a cow figurine, had many on the edge of their seats with tickets in hand. Energy remained high even after the show, as friends and family swarmed the actors and the audience chatted while walking out the door. As per usual, it was another hit show from Mad Cow Improv.

For any students looking to boost their spirits going into the weekend, attending a Mad Cow show is the perfect option. A great way to support an on campus organization, the performances are always entertaining and unpredictable. Each member brings their own unique take to the stage, and audience participation creates a sense of community among all who attend. So, when looking for some great, local entertainment, look no further than the next Mad Cow show!

Abigail Sholes
CONTRIBUTOR
PROFILE