Wednesday, February 10, 1999
Honkeys antics attract full houses
COMEDY: Improv group brings show to Los Angeles, uses game
show-style atmosphere to win big laughs
By Sandy Yang
Daily Bruin Staff
They are an ensemble group originally from Orlando, Florida.
Their hobbies include making people roll down the aisles in
laughter.
No, it is not the Backstreet Boys.
Give a warm welcome to Houseful of Honkeys.
Actually, a Houseful of Honkeys consists of seven improv artists
who are mixing up the improv concept with a game show. The hybrid
becomes "You Bet Your Honkey," an interactive improvisational game
show appearing at the Acme Comedy Theatre every Friday until
May.
Just their name is an indication of their unique or crazy sense
of humor.
"That came from absolutely nothing," Honkey Joel McCrary said.
"We just thought it sounded funny …"
"… Honkey is a pretty funny sounding word," fellow Honkey
Jonathan Mangum added. "It sounds like you shouldn’t be able to use
it, but then when you actually use it, nobody’s offended by
it."
In the Honkeys’ house, two lucky contestants have a chance to
win a cash prize. But this is one game show where genuine laughter
will most likely replace the apathetic applause from the audience,
given the up-and-coming cast of comedians and actors.
Included in the cast is Wayne Brady, a regular on ABC’s popular
improv show, "Whose Line Is It Anyway?," hosted by Drew Carey.
Mangum had a guest role in "Just Shoot Me" as David Spade’s
temporary protege. The other members include McCrary, Dave Russell,
Clare Sera, Danno Sullivan and Matt Young, who are also making
appearances in films and television.
Having worked together nine years ago as young comedians in
their hometown, the seven comedians and friends started at the Sak
Theater and put on 13 shows a week. Their show attracted enough
people so that making a living off performing in their own theater
was possible.
But even with the success of the show, each member eventually
ventured out to Los Angeles to try their hand in Hollywood. Now,
together again, the group has renovated the improv concept while
making use of their unique friendship and chemistry with each
other.
"When it came down to it, we knew we had a special chemistry,
and we wanted to keep it together, so the seven of us banded
together and decided to put the show up," Brady said.
As for the game show itself, two players are picked from the
audience. The players are the team captains, who each pick three
members for two improv teams. Sullivan is the regular host.
After the pick, the two teams battle it out, armed with their
wit and improv skills to determine the winner at the end by
audience applause. Whoever wins gets points.
After that, the team captains each pick a kitsch of some sort
with various points indicated on its bottom. At the end, points are
added up. But it isn’t over until a Final Jeopardy-type round where
the players bet who is funniest in another round of improv. And
still, it isn’t done until the Honkeys sing an improv musical.
Oh yeah, and a lucky contestant can win a cash prize. Details at
the show.
But audience members aren’t the only ones rewarded with a cash
prize or a hilarious improv experience. For the members of Houseful
of Honkeys, the joy of performing with each other and witnessing a
roomful of people laughing is a thrill all the time.
"That’s where I derive a nice bit of my happiness, because I’m
one of those people that I honestly cannot think of any other job
on this planet that I’m suited to do," Brady said.
McCrary seconded the notion. "We’re performers, and we’re
absolutely addicted to it. We’ve got to do it."
Given the pressure of performing on the spot, the experience is
not only a thrill but a risk that is unfathomable to most people.
But the risk has never fazed this group, which thrives on the
excitement that comes from bringing in the unexpected, even between
friends who have known each other this long.
"Doing improv is the most fun performance that there is because
it is completely on the edge," McCrary said. "You have no idea what
there’s going to be coming from the people you perform with and
they don’t know what you’re going to do, but somehow you work
together, and it makes sense."
Brady added, "It’s always a compliment when someone says, ‘You
can’t be doing improv because it looks too good.’ That means we’re
doing our job well."
COMEDY: Houseful of Honkeys performs at the Acme Company Theatre
every Friday at 8:30 until May. Tickets are $5 for UCLA students
and $8 general admission. For more information, call (323) 525-0202
or log on at www.honkeys.com.The comedy group Houseful of Honkeys
put on a game show called "You Bet Your Honkey" at the Acme Comedy
Theatre every Friday.
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