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Assscat Revisited
Jester gets a fresh look at the long-running Sunday night UCB
improv showcase
By Michael Shashoua / Jester editor-in-chief; pictured: Zach Woods
Improv is a team effort, but in catching up with the Upright
Citizens Brigade Theatre’s long-running Sunday night “Assscat” show
which features the theater’s best players who are in New York and
available, at the early show on December 23, one player stood out.
Zach Woods, a cast member of “The Office” for two seasons, and a
veteran of UCB improv teams including “The
Shoves,” showed great creativity and aptitude for bringing back
pieces of prior scenes – even those before the intermission between
sets. Woods devised a fully realized character of a divorced youth
minister on the spot, then popped him into later scenes when his
appearance would have a big impact.
Woods also has a knack for great on the spot, creative lines of
dialogue, as in a scene with Anna Rubanova playing a depressive
woman who had attempted suicide with whatever was on hand, which
happened to be a pizza cutter, when he said in mock sing-songy
Italian, “I’m a so a depressed a.”
The other improvisers on this night, Michael Kayne, Shannon O’Neill
and Chris Gethard, all filled in certain colors and material to the
scenes, although Woods stood out as an architect thinking on a
different level. Gethard, playing on his own persona (see
reviews of his book, 2/7/12 and
solo show, 12/20/08) got
laughs just with a goony stare into space to depict a simpleton
character. O’Neill devised a concept of a “shame kiosk” at Bed, Bath
& Beyond that one would visit to get rid of things about oneself
that were shameful, or get help in that regard.
Rubanova initiated quite a bit of material as well, especially a
sexually voracious but clueless young girl who would pop up and
attack others at different points – just about any time O’Neill
would be doing something like playing skeeball or “Dance Dance
Revolution” at an arcade, thus inviting those moments in scenes.
“Assscat” has been running for 16 years now, from well before the
UCB got its current theater space. In years past, Amy Poehler and
the other original UCB members were frequently in this show, along
with Tina Fey, Paul Scheer, Rob Huebel and many other alumni of the
theater who are now all over the comedy landscape. Woods, O’Neill
and Gethard have all now been affiliated with UCB for several years
and are carrying on the “Assscat” tradition as energetically and
inspired as ever.
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© 2005-2018 Michael Shashoua