Some members of Scatterbomb after their performance on Friday.
MAIZY SWIFT/THE QUADRANGLE
By Maizy Swift, Production Editor & Asst. A&E Editor
Manhattan College’s improv group Scatterbomb held a performance in Hayden 100 last Friday night that brought nonstop giggles from the crowd and even featured a monologue by one of MCs very own religious studies professors, Robert Geraci, Ph.D.
The show had a great turnout, and the audience was engaged throughout Geracis’ monologue which opened the performance and paved the way for the show’s theme as he spoke about his childhood best friend’s unfortunate sexual history that led to many children. Members of Scatterbomb took this monologue and put on various scenes involving condoms, teenage pregnancy and 7/11 lottery winners.
Junior Olivia Appel had never been to a Scatterbomb performance before, but her friends on the stage and in the crowd convinced her to come.
“It was really fun,” Appel said. “My friends told me that [Scatterbomb] would also be doing something different this show, which worried me at first, but it turned out really great.”
During the first weekend of April, Scatterbomb hosts English night, where professors attend to read monologues and laugh with students in a professional yet laid-back setting.
“I would come back again,” Appel said. “I would definitely recommend it for students who want something to do on a Friday night where they want to go out but not too far.”
Lochlan Reeder, another junior at MC, told The Quadrangle this was not his first at a Scatterbomb show. In fact, Reeder had been a part of Scatterbomb for a short time during his freshman year.
“I’ve been to a couple of shows before,” Reeder said. “I actually was a part of it for a month in my freshman year, and I quit right before the first show because I was nervous.”
Reeder described that his favorite part of the show was the linear storyline usually lacking in Scatterbomb performances.
“I was impressed with the whole plot, with the old lady that went on for the whole hour,” Reeder said. “It feels like they don’t usually have the whole linear storyline.”
Eric Richter, a freshman who joined Scatterbomb in the fall semester, described how it helped his college experience.
“[Scatterbomb] certainly made me more comfortable during college,” Richter said. “It was really difficult for me to fit in or feel comfortable at [MC], but when I’m here with these people, it just feels nice, and there’s a sense of friendship that’s helped.”
Ritcher was happy with the way the show had gone. However, he did share some ways he felt like he could improve for the next performance.
“I think on my part, at the beginning, I was participating a nice amount, and then near the end, I kind of had a few ideas,” Ritcher said. “I still have a little bit of trouble going up and controlling the scene, but I’ve improved since the beginning of the year.”
With the help of Scatterbomb, Ritcher hopes to improve his improv skills more as the semester progresses.
“I’m usually kind of nervous up in the front, but I also do improv to try to break out of that,” Ritcher said. “I found that when I’m doing improv, at least the crowd doesn’t bother me as much as if I were saying a speech for class or something.”
Scatterbomb revealed at the end of their performance that they would now be holding shows every Friday night in April. Students are encouraged to check out their Instagram @scatterbombmc for upcoming themes such as Alumni Night and their annual closing-out show, Scatterprom. If you want to have a good laugh with some friends, check out their next performance in Hayden 100 next Friday at 8 p.m. and dress trashy.