Students gathered Dec. 6 and 7 in Colgate University’s Golden Auditorium to watch members of the student-led comedy group Charred Goosebeak performed a series of comedy sketches, titled “ETC-Section: A Goose is Born.” The show included a wide variety of sketches that blended relatable and quirky themes that resonated with the audience of young college students.
Senior Lauren Sterne, co-president of Charred Goosebeak, shared her reflections on the show and the work done with the other cast members behind the scenes.
“‘ETC-Section’ is hands down the strongest show the sketch comedy group has put on in the last four years,” Sterne said. “COVID-19 almost killed the group all together. The students that wrote and performed this weekend have revitalized it fully heartily. Each of them come to the table with a clever sensibility and a unique perspective.”
Sterne added that several new elements were added to this fall’s set.
“This semester, in an attempt to fully actualize our vision as a legitimate comedy group, we implemented props and performed two shows opposed to just one. This may seem small to the onlooker but complicates the writing, planning and performing of the material,” Sterne said. “The group handled it well, and I think it will pay dividends down the line as Charred Goosebeak sets its sight on new horizons of possibility.”
Sterne explained how ETC and Charred Goosebeak combined into one group this semester to work together and share the spotlight.
“The comedy talent at Colgate runs deep, and great comedy is born out of genius collaboration,” Sterne said.
The group put together a variety of small sketches to share during their show. “Reptile Guy” started off about a reptile owner performing at a kids birthday party, with stakes rising quickly when a snake gets on the loose. “Riley goes to DU” is a play on the Pixar movie “Inside Out,” illustrating the character Riley tackling the task of entering a college frat party. The laughter in the room was sparked by people connecting with the experience of having mixed emotions in an unfamiliar place. Another great sketch was “Psychic,” a skit about friends discovering who they were in their past lives — the reveals definitely shocked the room.
Junior Chrissy Gelins shared she had an amazing experience watching the show and praised the creativity and variety in the sketches, specifically highlighting the sketch titled “Flatline.”
“My favorite part of the show was Flatline,” Gelins said. “The actors put so much energy into their characters as the dying man and the Grim Reaper. It was hilarious watching the guy try to cheat death in the most ridiculous ways — even with the dark theme, it had everyone cracking up.”
Sophomore Quinn Heffernan, one of the comedians with Charred Goosebeak, shared that it was their first time performing on back-to-back days and was thrilled to see packed audiences for both shows.
“My favorite part of the show was the variety of accents,” Heffernan said. “We had German boys, Miami girls, crazy psychics, Long Island locals, French directors, blind exotic dancers and, of course, the Honorable Judge Fiona Apple.”
The performers were truly talented and showcased a wide range of skills, including mastering accents, illustrating unique settings without any backgrounds and expressive body language. Their versatility brought each character to life and added depth and nuance to every sketch. Each sketch was delivered with the unique flair of the actors, captivating the audience right into the scene. The humor catered to everyone, showcasing the team’s impressive effort in crafting and rehearsing the perfect collection of sketches.
Charred Goosebeak is always looking for new members and prosperity to continue this rich tradition at Colgate. If you or your friends are interested in joining the improv troupe or the sketch comedy group, they hold auditions every fall and spring semester. Each group holds two to three shows per semester, and no prior experience is necessary to audition.
“If anyone is looking for a great outlet for their humor and to hang out with some cool people, come and try out,” Heffernan said.
