Scatterbomb performs their first show of the semester.
ANGELINA PEREZ / THE QUADRANGLE
By Elizabeth Kalaj, Web Editor
Manhattan University’s improv club, Scatterbomb, took the stage for their first show of the academic year.
The night was advertised as “Sammerbomb” after Samuel Holert, a club member, who “stole” the show. He joked around with the crowd for about ten minutes before the show, then started with the opening scene.
Holert admitted that being on stage can be nerve-wracking, but the fun comes from the people on it and the receptiveness of the crowd can be so rewarding.
“I think improv is something that everyone could do,” Holert said. “We all improv daily, when we talk to people, we have a conversation and we are improving because we do not know what they are going to ask you.”
Quickly after his solo act, new members sitting in the audience broke out from the crowd in their new Scatterbomb merchandise and took the stage, joining the returners.
The improvised skits began inspired by words shouted out by the crowd, including “Mets,” “carrots,” and “schizophrenia.” The cast then took these words and bounced off one another’s ideas, ultimately formulating the first half-hour of laughs.
Sophomore Karie Alvarez, an audience member, was very impressed with the show and all of Scatterbomb’s members. This is the fifth show she has attended, and she explained why she keeps returning for more.
“I come to Scatterbomb because they are just hilarious,” Alvarez said. “I love coming here. It is such a fun time with friends to just come on a Friday night and see a show together done by MU’s own amazing improv group.”
This performance was the first for about half of the Scatterbomb members. Their membership recently jumped and was recognized through all the different energies brought to the stage.
Kristina Bopp, a freshman and mechanical engineering major, was amongst these new members who made their first debut.
“I did theater all through high school with a mix of tech [technical] and acting,” Bopp said.“When I saw the booth at the club fair, I was like ‘you know what, I am funny and I can join this’ and that was it.”
Bopp felt great after her multiple appearances on center stage during the night’s show.
“I feel good,” Bopp said. “I do not know where I came up with singing ‘Ice, Ice, Baby’ but it came and it delivered. I love being on stage and my performance was very true to myself.”
The Quadrangle spoke to Chayse Martino, president of Scatterbomb, about her thoughts leading up to the night and the difference between leading past groups and the larger group they have now.
“I was definitely nervous because at practice, there was just a bunch of different and new energies that were not always meshing,” Martino said. “Then, we practiced the whole opening bit and I was very confident about that to get the crowd excited. Once we started, I felt like all my worries went away because of how smoothly everything was going and how receptive the audience was.”
Martino agreed that seeing the crowd tonight and studying its different energies and receptiveness may influence a few things about future shows.
“We cannot say too much,” Martino said. “Definitely expect the unexpected with Scatterbomb this semester, and expect more shirts coming to the shows!”