Stick a fork in it

The first sketch group I was ever a part of, Dictator’s Time Machine, is no more. It’s somewhat fitting that we were originally pulled together to perform, compete, and ultimately lose in ImprovBoston’s Sketch CageMatch and our (unannounced) final show was a victory in ImprovBoston’s Battle Royale, the (also competitive) successor to Sketch CageMatch.

I’m not sad or disappointed about our end. I knew one day it would be over and I’m proud of what we accomplished. We performed many, many times at ImprovBoston in all kinds of shows: Sketchaüs, Sketch CageMatch, The Comedy Lab, and Battle Royale. We had the opportunity to open for one of my comedy idols, Jonathan Katz, at a charity event. We put up a set in the show Test Drive at the Magnet Theater in New York City. And of course, our last show was a winning campaign and probably our best show.

Unfortunately, it feels like it’s impossible to hold a sketch group together in Boston. I know there are groups that do it and I give them a lot of credit. When it comes to troupes in Boston, it’s all about the improv scene. Bringing people together for an improv show (or run of shows) is infinitely easier to do since there are no scripts to write or lines that need to be learned. It also requires a bit more commitment to be a part of a sketch group and I think a lot of people prefer things to be more casual. Oh well, to each his own, life goes on, et cetera…