Porridge Simulator
If you saw a donkey roaming through the halls of Carney or running wind sprints on the Alumni Stadium turf, your eyes were not deceiving you. Boston College sketch and improv comedy group, Asinine, was filming the opening sketch for their 2023 Fall Café: Porridge Simulator. Founded in 2001, Asinine is Boston College's only sketch and improvisational comedy troupe. "Asininers" create and produce a wide array of original content to perform throughout the academic year, and all students are welcome to watch their talents come to life in real time on nights like these.
I walked in, and people started laughing at me, at themselves, at all of us;
Last Thursday, Boston College students packed Gasson 305 to watch Porridge Simulator. At 9:30pm, "Asininers" ran out in their red and white t-shirts to perform forty-five minutes of improv games, including fan favorites like "Freeze that Guy" and "PPLR” (Pan-Left, Pan-Right). Students passionately yelled out scene and character inspirations, many fighting to have their ideas picked for the next game. Directing and leading this troupe of eleven comedians are co-presidents Madelyn Schwartz (MCAS '24) & Sara Litteken (LSOHED '24) and Treasurer Maddie Bamberger (MCAS '24). Four new "Asininers" also took the stage Thursday night: Mary Mullen (MCAS '27), Deirdre Donaher (MCAS '27), Jack Dierkes (MCAS '26), and Celeste Caseria (MCAS '26). Schwartz cited the Fall Café as "her favorite show of the year;" it is "the first time we get to perform improv together after taking a whole summer off. Everyone's really inspired to create and energized to perform."
I laughed too…
Boston College has two other comedy groups on campus, Hello…Shovelhead and My Mother's Fleabag—both of which specialize in different aspects of improv and sketch. Instead of counterproductive competition, the three groups build community together, support each other, and uplift; Bamberger said, "having all the other comedy groups come out and support us [at the Café] was really awesome. I recognized so many members from other groups in the front row." Schwartz and Bamberger hosted a Com-BBQ in the Mods at the beginning of the year as a kick-off to the start of a new comedy season. The intention of hosting the BBQ was to "foster and build upon pre-existing friendships with the other comedy groups." Schwartz said, "Com-BBQ brought a big group of like-minded individuals together to hang-out and express excitement for the year ahead."
If you are interested in comedy, or just in need of a good laugh, Asinine will host two more shows, one in the Fall and one in the Spring, and one more café at the start of second semester. Their Fulton Show, name TBD, will be held on November 3rd-4th. "Big shows are always a lot of work, but it is awesome to see friends and family come together to watch us perform. The best feeling is making people laugh" Schwartz said when asked about what she's most looking forward to in her last year on Asinine. Using their unique talent and humor to connect with the wider BC community, Asinine never fails to cultivate a space filled with creativity, self-expression, passion, and, of course, laughter.
…and the crowd went wild.
Written by Emily DeVito ‘24
Photographs by Seho Lee ‘27