Lunátics: M-A’s Very Own Improv Group

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Written by Michael Abramson

If you missed Lunátics Christmas show, that’s okay. According to Captain Sam Hausman, “your attempt at a social life is probably funnier than our show was anyways. But come to our next show, we’re going to have a live bear!!!” It can be said no better way: Lunátics are lunatics. There is certainly no group at M-A more difficult to get a serious answer from. Nevertheless, this vivacious spirit is the reason Lunátics, M-A’s resident improv group, is funnier than ever. Led by senior Alexander Most and junior Sam Hausman, Lunátics has already had an extremely successful Christmas performance despite a fairly inexperienced cast.

In conducting my interview with president Sam Hausman, I found it a bit difficult to keep him on the topic at hand, as he was attempting to split his time between our interview and a riveting game of Madden ‘09. The Lunátics members’ humor is seemingly ever present: despite my best efforts, the only quote Mr. Hausman was willing to give me involved his intentions to “protect Gotham City” and that “the night is darkest before the dawn.” However, he did finally admit that Lunátics has become “more mature,” and that “everyone is more interested in being funny as a team and wants to make the person next to them seem funny.”

While both Hausman and Most have enjoyed three years in Lunátics, sophomore Lucas Del Calvo and club sponsor Mrs. Peoples are the only other members of Lunátics not in their first year. Nevertheless, Lunátics seems to be as hilarious as ever. One advantage is the leadership of rookie seniors Joseph Ocon, Cameron Rowland, and Forrest Tiffany. According to Rowland, the three are mainly known “for our incredible good looks,” but their comedic talents are fairly renowned at M-A as well. Another upperclassman making his first appearance in Lunátics is junior Rob Davis. Rob isn’t sure how he contributes to Lunátics, but he is still fairly sure that he does make some sort of contribution. Sophomores Michael Hester, Max Goldenstein, and Lucas Del Calvo complete the ensemble. Despite their youth, none have wavered in the spotlight, providing just as many laughs as any of their older compatriots.

While I am not involved in the planning of the next show, I feel fairly certain that there will not, in fact, be any actual bears involved in the performance. What I can guarantee, however, is a great performance. While some of the games are the same, the evolution of Lunátics has reached a point where every show strikes upon multiple facets of comedy so that no show becomes too repetitive. From Joseph Ocon’s superb impressions to Max Goldenstein’s intellectual sense of humor, this may be the most versatile group to ever grace M-A. With at least two or three Lunátics shows left in the year, it would be a tragedy for anyone to miss out on M-A’s very own, and very talented, improv group.