On Monday, Nov. 19, students gathered at the Collins Center for the Arts to attend an evening of comedy, featuring Gary Gulman and Alex Moffat, hosted by the University of Maine’s Student Government.
The evening opened with Anna Drezen, a comedian and writer based out of Brooklyn, NY. Drezen writes for Saturday Night Live (SNL) and is the editor of Reductress, a satirical women’s magazine. She appeared between acts, discussing the perils of friending your uncle on Facebook, sobriety in social settings and curating online dating profiles.
Drezen first introduced Gary Gulman, a stand-up comedian from Peabody, Massachusetts. Gulman was a finalist on the second season of NBC’s reality talent show, “Last Comic Standing” and is one of the few comedians to have performed on every late-night comedy television show.
Maylinda Boynton, a fourth-year music education and political science student, sat in the first row of the theater. She participated in Gulman’s crowd work and found the evening to be the perfect remedy for the stress she experienced before vacation.
“Honestly, Gary Gulman was the best comedian … he just was very open and went along with the atmosphere of the crowd! Events like this especially close to a break are the perfect way to relieve stress! And it’s free … what college kid doesn’t like free,” Boyton said.
After Goldman, Drezen introduced Alex Moffat, an actor and comedian from Chicago, IL. He debuted on SNL in 2016 and became a repertory cast member this year. Moffat started his set with some character work but quickly transitioned into discussing UMaine’s current events, such as the allegations of hazing that Sigma Alpha Epsilon was found responsible for at the end of the spring 2018 semester.
His stand-up included reflections on his experience with girls and cigars at the Denison University in Ohio. Moffat discussed the importance of sexual experimentation in college, and the lack of understanding held by 22-year-olds of sexually transmitted infections.
Moffat then took suggestions from the crowd for the bit he called “when actors don’t remember their lines,” where he gave slightly altered interpretations of iconic cinematic moments. Some of the films he spoofed included “When Harry Met Sally,” “Titanic” and “Star Wars.”
Corey Claflin, a fourth-year political science and economics student is the vice president of student entertainment for UMaine’s Student Government. Claflin’s role is to help clubs looking to host events on campus, as well as plan events such as comedians, guest speakers and concerts for the UMaine undergrad community.
“Planning the comedian show had numerous moving parts,” Claflin said. “Securing the date and venue came first, then negotiating with the artists regarding logistics and agreement on contract clauses. Artists also have certain stage needs, so I work with the artist and venue to ensure they have everything they need to have a successful show. Anything from specific to dressing room needs are considered. I worked closely with CCA staff to make this event happen.”
The effort made to accommodate performers’ needs was exemplified by the CCA staff providing Moffat with a keyboard which was barely used. Claflin shared a similar sentiment to Boynton on what purpose events like this hold on campus.
“Campus events such as concerts, guest speakers, and cultural events are vital to the overall quality of a college career at UMaine,” Claflin said. “Having a wide variety of events hosted by UMSG and its affiliated organizations is key to exploring new ideas and connecting with different aspects and opportunities of student life on campus. Planning events of any scale also promote strong communication at all levels, ensuring that resources are being allocated to best serve students. Being a part of student government has exposed me to new opportunities and to learn more about the countless ways students are serving each other, the local community, and communities across the country and the world.”
To discover more events like this, follow UMaine Student Government, Inc. on Facebook or @Umsginc on Instagram.
