By Amanda Bala
Are you looking for a fun night out on the town? Well, look no further than Ferndale’s own Go Comedy! Though there are other comedy clubs in the Metro Detroit Area, most are all about stand up comedy. Go Comedy! is really unique in that it focuses on improv and sketch comedy. And this quaint but lively theatre puts on a show that will keep you laughing all night long.
I had the opportunity to talk to Pj Jacokes, one of the owners of Go Comedy!. As we talked about what the shows are all about, I knew that I wanted to visit and experience it for myself. My husband and I went to the Saturday night All-Star Showdown. When we arrived, I was struck by how charming the theatre was. We waited for the show to begin and perused the designer drink list they offered. We were then given note cards to fill out asking for some general information. They also ask if you would be willing to come on stage. I marked a big NO for that, and although I was called out to talk from within the crowd, my decision to not come up on stage was respected. This is an important aspect of Go Comedy!. No audience member is taken onstage if they choose not to. “We are all about making people feel at home. We would never want someone to feel attacked or uncomfortable” Pj said.
Taking suggestions from the audience, the performers act out different scenarios. They give you the very best they have through a hilarious compilation of games and sketches. Throughout the show, I was constantly amazed at how spontaneous and funny they were. The lightning speed at which they can zing out the one-liners astounded me! There were a couple of times that I was in tears from laughing so hard. Every time you think you have heard the best line of the night, they come up with something even better. Since there are 6 different players, each one brings their own style of humor to the performance. We showed up for the 8 pm show and had such a fabulous time that we not only stayed for the 10 pm show, but the Dark Matter improv that followed. These truly were some of the funniest shows I have ever seen.
Go Comedy is owned and operated by Tommy LeRoy, Pj Jacokes, Chris DeAngelo and Gerald Knight. They chose Ferndale because of its strong downtown, the people, the culture and its family-like atmosphere. The club itself is a cozy venue designed by the owners. They put much of themselves and their personalities into it. The bar was specifically designed by Tommy, “a designing genius” in Pj’s words and is a beautiful piece of work. Their effort and care is shown in every aspect of Go Comedy!
Go Comedy! has a variety of shows running Wednesday thru Sunday.
Wednesdays – you can see different improv teams battle it out on stage. The audience actively participates and chooses the winner at the end of each performance.
Thursday and Friday nights give you the opportunity to take in some of the sketch comedy. Recently opened are Space Maid’s and Ferndale 248, a hilarious cop spoof. Friday and Saturday nights at are improv with the All-Star Showdown. As I mentioned earlier, this was one of the funniest shows I have ever seen and I highly recommend it. Finally, on Sundays you can see the next generation of improv teams performing their material.
Go Comedy! also offers a wide range of improv and sketch classes. The classes are taught by talented improv teachers and are a great way to meet people and to test your ability to do something new and fun. Classes rang from introductory to advanced.
Go Comedy! is a departure from your normal, run of the mill comedy club. It keeps you laughing from the minute the performers start until the very last line has been delivered. Fun, friendly, comfortable and hilarious, Go Comedy! is an experience that you will be talking about long after you leave the theatre. For specific show times and prices, please visit the Go Comedy! website at www.gocomedy.net or call 248-327-0575.
Go Comedy! is proud to present the “Spontaneous Combustion Motor City” improv festival. This event will be taking place August 10th – 14th, 2011. Entries are now being accepted. Please contact Go Comedy! at 248-327-0575 for more information.
