What does a dyslexic, agnostic insomniac do?
They stay awake every night wondering if there’s a dog.
This is just one of the jokes you could expect to hear from a member of the Buttered Niblets — a student-run improvisational comedy group that has been delivering memorable shows for nearly 40 years at Hopkins. From Bloomberg lecture halls to the Arellano Theatre, the Buttered Niblets perform all across campus, totaling about six 90-minute shows a year.
For each show, the Buttered Niblets choose different games that each have their own rules for setting up the scene. The improvisational aspect is introduced when the Niblets ask the audience for a word, location, relationship or even song lyric to draw inspiration for the scene’s plot.
The Buttered Niblets hold workshops open to the public at the beginning of fall semester to give newcomers a fresh taste of improv comedy, and auditions follow shortly after. This inspires inexperienced students to audition, since most students do not have prior improv experience.
The art behind this comedy group lies in the hands of its nine members, fostering a tight-knit community. Although members prioritize letting loose during practice, they put significant work into each of their shows, practicing daily during show weeks and twice a week during normal weeks. Members diligently practice the art of creating a scene with a set partner, which many see as a difficult task to improvise. In an interview with The News-Letter, Buttered Niblets Secretary Lia Carroll shared the difficulty of improv, stemming from a focus on deep listening.
“I think people don't realize that improv is a lot more listening than people realize, because you have to really make sure that you're listening to every word that's being said if you're in a scene with somebody else, to make sure that you don't accidentally contradict the world that they already set up,” Carroll shared.
Although it can be difficult to remember all the established details of a scene, President Jack Culligan reassured that the art of improv is that there really are not many mistakes to make. One member’s “mistake” or ineffective detail can be another member’s springboard for a new joke.
For example, Culligan recalled how a previous member of the club mistakenly thought a salamander was a type of fish and acted out a whole fishing scene upon the suggestion of an audience member. Culligan said this “mistake” only added to the humor of the performance, as the members of the Buttered Niblets embrace their interactive, intimate experience with the audience as they improvise scenes.
It can be challenging to improvise scenes with set partners, but the camaraderie and closeness of the members enrich the collaboration needed to imagine new comedic realities. Carroll shared what this closeness means to her in an interview with The News-Letter.
“There were already traditions when I came in, and that felt very special. Like, we always go out to dinner before shows. It sounds like a small thing, but that was built-in infrastructure that really allows for a real sense of community,” Carroll said.
The Buttered Niblets pride themselves on their flexibility to perform across a variety of spaces, from lecture halls to theaters. Carroll said they don’t need much besides two chairs, and she shared her appreciation of the humor and humility behind performing across different venues.
“[The flexibility] makes improv really special and mirrors the essence of what improv is,” Carroll said.
Although the Buttered Niblets perform at spaces of vastly different sizes, Culligan highlighted the significance of performing at smaller spaces. He reflected upon the playful, intimate relationship between the audience and improv comedians, highlighting how smaller spaces can foster a strong connection between the audience and performers.
“When you go to a theater and you watch a show or a musical, [...] there's this wall between where you are and the performance that's happening,” Culligan said. “With improv, I know that's not true, because you ask for suggestions, [or sometimes] people go into the audience. When we do our shows, we'll sit just in front of or even to the side of the people participating, to have that feel like one room instead of a bunch of people watching a wall with another reality happening behind it — it’s really personal in a way I appreciate.”
Culligan continued to share how he embraces even “boos” from the audience, as all audience interactions are positively received by the comedians working to provide an all-encompassing performance. He then expressed his appreciation for his fellow Niblets, highlighting the value each member brings with their unique sense of humor and wit.
“Everyone in that club is not normal [...] And I really appreciate that,” Culligan said. “I think that’s valuable.”
