The Charles Darwin Experience rouses college crowds each week on the Gallagher Theater stage, and hopes to do the same on the Centennial Hall patio this Saturday before a performance by Paula Poundstone.
Darwin has done several shows outside of their normal setup in the Student Union Memorial Center, including residence halls, sorority houses and the stage on the UA Mall for Earth Hour and Relay for Life.
But this will be their first opportunity to open for a UApresents show, according to member Jenny Wise.
“”It’s fun to take us out of our element and see what we’re capable of,”” Wise said.
Wise said the group gets contacted by different organizations, but, since few comedy shows come into UApresents, the opportunity was an exciting one for the group.
The group performance will be shorter, a half an hour instead of their usual hour, and will focus more on pure improv, skipping some guessing games that require more audience explanation, but otherwise will be like their usual shows. The group loves performing outside, according to Wise, because their improv style is stripped down enough to make the transition.
What’s interesting to Wise is the difference in crowds that the two comedy acts attract.
“”We’re going to have a very different crowd. We’re interested to see what audience (Paula will) bring in,”” Wise said. “”We’re trying to get younger students to come and see the show, and we’re all going to go and see the show.””
Wise said this will be the first time she’s seen stand-up in-person, adding that Poundstone is “”quite the pioneer of women in comedy.””
Although Darwin targets a different demographic, “”commenting on the everyday”” and finding humor in the rigmarole of life is something Wise said both acts have in common.
“”We do college humor. We do a lot of topical references and a lot of pop culture references,”” Wise said. “”And she’s been in the business forever, and I think her comedy has changed a little bit as she matured, and ours is in the basic levels of inappropriate humor at times. She, kind of like (Jerry) Seinfeld does, (focuses on) commenting on every day life.””
Darwin recently had auditions for the show, adding two new women to the group, Dana Dobbins and Bri Giger.
“”Luckily for us, they are both hilarious and I have the utmost confidence that they will be great at the Paula Poundstone opening,”” Wise said, adding the new additions will be alongside veteran Darwin members so as to not feel overwhelmed. “”The two of them are already so incorporated in the group, and I am so glad that they are part of our little Darwin family.””
The Charles Darwin Experience will perform from 7:20 to 7:50 p.m. on the patio in front of Centennial Hall before Paula Poundstone’s show at 8 p.m. inside the hall.
Can’t get enough Darwin? The UA’s only all-improv comedy group, The Charles Darwin Experience, performs a free, one-hour show every Tuesday night in the Gallagher Theater at 10:10 p.m.
