Lights, camera … gradebook?

The CVHS Drama department soft-launched their comedy night on Oct. 16. The first act was composed of smaller one-acts and the second of a Comedy Sportz improv show. 

Within the first half of the show was an act created and directed by drama student Ivan Reaves, with the actors being Jaslyne Diaz, Elsa Madsen, Sky Johnson, and Michaela Smith. His scene accurately depicted the challenges of a student’s life, balancing schoolwork and health.

In it, one student illegally gains access to the teacher’s computer, which has all of the lesson plans for the year as well as the gradebook. She brings it to her friends and explains the situation: her computer died and so did the boy’s she’s trying to impress, so instead of fixing it or finding a charger, she broke into the office and stole the teacher’s computer.

One of her friends calls in his mom, who gives a soliloquy about feeling ignored by her son. In the end, she offers her computer to the panicked student, who runs off to give it to the boy. 

Only the two original friends are left onstage. They stare at the computer and debate changing the grades, but ultimately decide against it. That is, until they notice a zero on an assignment and decide that maybe it’s okay, just this once. 

With easily relatable characters and a somewhat realistic scenario, the scene leaves the audience chuckling and wondering what they would have done in that situation themselves. 

Other acts included a sock-puppet argument, a dead parrot slammed onto a desk repeatedly, and a very tough piece of steak that shook the whole table in protest of being eaten.

After a quick intermission followed the improv show in Comedy Sportz format, with two teams, one red and one blue, competing in team or individual improv games to win points. The red team quickly pulled ahead, winning the first game and gaining the audience’s vote in the second. But by the third, the blue team started to regain speed and ended up winning the competition. 

Overall, the show was a hit – a night full of laughs and entertainment that allowed people to disconnect from their troubles together for a couple of hours.