Milwuakee's ComedySportz Packs in the Crowds for Adult Improv Every Saturday Night

For months now, my girlfriend and her friends have been going to The Midnight Show, and I have had the pleasure to join them on many occasions. We have come to know the comedians involved, and my girlfriend is even their unofficial photographer (many of her pics have appeared on the group's myspace page). And truly, these guys deserve allt he fans they can get, as they are a complete riot.

As you enter ComedySportz on any Saturday night, you will most likely be greeted by the backs of fans waiting in line for tickets. The Midnight Show is constantly sold out, and with good reason. However, praise is cheap, so let's go over the show from beginning to end.

As you enter the auditorium, with your $5 wristband on your arm ($6 on charity nights), you will most likely be scoping out the best place to sit. The floor section (a grouping of black tables) is best, right up against the stage, and close enough to hear everything you need to. If you show up late though, you will end up in back, or stuck in the side box. Both will get you the experience, so don't fret too much. Just understand seating is at a premium, and people will push and shove to get the front row seats.

So you are now seated, sitting, waiting for 12:00 to hit. As the time approaches, waiters will come around, and you can purchase food, beverages, and alcoholic drinks from them. Get some water at least, because you just might need it if you laugh yourself to a sore throat. Suddenly, the lights go dark, music starts blaring, and you hear the screaming introduction to Cock N Toast (usually done by Bill Bartell).

It's usually at this point the crowd actually start getting lively, and you can tell you are in for a good time but how into it the crowd is. You see, Cock N Toast is uncensored adult improv. Using suggestions from the audience the guys will act out skits and such, and anything goes. You shout out 5 guys having sex, they will show you 5 guys having sex (though all done with clothes on and in mime).

The show usually starts with a game called Scatter-freeze. In this game, the players take suggestions from the audience and do a skit based off of it. Usually things go very quickly out of control and hilarity ensues. One of the players not on stage yells Scatter and they move on to the next suggestion. This game is the warm up game most of the time, and can sometimes be the funniest thing you have ever seen. Until you get to the other games.

The team at CnT have many games they play with names like Frustration, Serious Scene, and the Drinking Game. Ah the Drinking Game. In this game one of the players leaves the room, heads to the bar, and 7-10 scenes, events, etc are planned out by the players and a lot of audience suggestions. When the list is finalized, they bring the exiled player back in, and have to get him to guess the events. Sounds easy, but they can only mime, and speak in gibberish (you know, stuff you used to speak as a baby, nonsensical junk) Oh, did I mention this is timed, and after each correct guess, they all take a drink? Some scenes from past shows include Donating Shirley Temple's Kidney, Creating a Democracy and, of all things, Traveling from World 1-1 in Super Mario Bros. to the Wallgreens store on Washington Street. This is usually the last game of the night, best part of the show, and since everyone is loosened up by this point, it's usually the most offensive segment, if you are easily offended that is.

If you are high on your moral fiber, tend to think of yourself as better than others, or in general find pantomimes and descriptions including profanity, sex, violence, religion, politics, etc. offensive to the point you consider legal action, save yourself the trouble and don't see Cock N Toast. However, if you are normal and a more laid back person, you really can't go wrong by seeing this show.

Highly Recommended

The Midnight Show plays every Saturday night at

ComedySportz
420 S. 1st St
Milwaukee, WI

You can purchase tickets, book private events, and more by calling (414) 272-8888

And the group has a myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/cockntoast