Comedy troupe strives for variety

The Bloomington Playwrights Project comedy show "IU's All Sorts of Trouble for the Boy in the Bubble" will perform its last show before Spring break Saturday night. The project's sketch comedy series theme is "Straight Up Funny" said Eric Jenkins, coordinator of the program, and will feature satire on current pop culture issues. \nThe "Boy in the Bubble" comedy troupe features IU students as performers and writers. They have been working and performing together every few weeks for over four years. Their sketch comedy features a menagerie of farce, satire, physical comedy, shock and improvisation.\nJenkins said the show has something everyone can enjoy but warned against the weak at heart.\n"We're controversial and very racy, but at the same time, we are not a one-trick pony. We strive for variety and smart comedy but also satire and shock humor," he said. \nJenkins said being allowed to use the BPP's location and developing such a strong base has been what keeps the group performing. \n"They have been very kind in allowing us to maintain the essence of 'Boy in the Bubble' without too much censorship or restriction," he said. \nFreshman Ben Cohen saw the show in the beginning of the school year. He said while he thought the show was funny, his own reaction to the material was surprising. \n"A lot of it was funny, but I took offense to a lot of the things they said. I just wasn't prepared for how shocking some of the subjects were," he said.\nRichard Perez, the artistic director for the BPP, said the comedy program almost always yields a packed house. \n"They have quite a following," Perez said. "They definitely have an irreverent appeal to the college crowd. They are very cutting edge in that way."\nPerez said the group attacks any subject they can put a satirical spin on -- making for an original and different show each time they perform. \nJenkins said the writers and performers aren't an elitist group excluding newcomers. He said "Boy in the Bubble" is always looking for new ideas and performers. \n"Each member brings his own perspective to the group that makes our sketch comedy unique," Jenkins said. \n"IU's All Sorts of Trouble for the Boy in the Bubble" performs this Saturday at the BPP, at 312 South Washington St. Doors open at 11 p.m. General admission tickets are $5 and will be available at the door. \n-- Contact staff writer Nicole Beemsterboer at jbeemste@indiana.edu.