"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."
These are the words of e.e. cummings. If he was correct, then every day should be spent chortling with Geneseo's premiere improvisational comedy troupe, No Laugh Track Required.
For those unfamiliar with the art of improv, think back to the popular 1990s TV show "Whose Line is it Anyway?" Four funny guys worked together to play different acting games, often asking the audience to put together a silly scenario riddled with pop culture references. That is what NLTR is all about: on-the-spot humor.
The first of the troupe's shows this semester was held Friday, Jan. 27 in Sturges Auditorium. Proceeds and donations went toward the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity's donation to the American Cancer Society.
Many of the Alpha Chi Rho brothers attended the event, lending strong support and laughter to their favorite comedy troupe. NLTR even featured one of the brothers in a skit – though some fun was poked at the daily life of the "Crows," the laughter was unanimous and the atmosphere was light.
NLTR used the show to reveal its newest comic: freshman Luke Martin. Martin's stage presence was impressive, and the audience couldn't get enough of his Chinese ninja trainer impersonation.
The group is multitalented, and each member brings a distinctive sense of humor and wit to the troupe. Both veteran and new comedians worked together cohesively to make the art of improv appear effortless.
NLTR is known to light up the stage with energy at each performance. With highlights including junior Mike Lanni's uncanny portrayal of Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino from MTV's "Jersey Shore" and sophomore Emily Cirincione's impression of Barney the dinosaur, it's clear the troupe is off to a great start to its semester.