Stunt Weasel
The Jazz of Improv Comedy

By Lem Montero
Kalamazoo Express • May 3, 2000

Backrow: Lucas Mansberger, Frank Adams-Miller, Dave Hossler. Front Row: Meredith Adams, Aime Heeter and Nayt Hiemstra

"Every day I get down on my knees!" Lucas Mansberger sang to Frank Adams-Miller. "Why? Cheese!" Dave Hossler added a show tune piano-line to the imaginary musical about cheese. The crowd laughed hysterically as the two continued to improvise the musical about the subject an audience member called out before the bit...Well, it was actually pretty funny live. You definitely had to be there.

Improv comedy is the acting world's version of improvizational jazz: Wild, spontaneous, seemingly effortless and seamless to those watching. But like jazz, that fluidity only comes so after countless hours worth of practice and hard work.

Comprised of everything from cooks to web-designers, Stunt Weasel sheds the expectations and responsibilities of the 9 to 5 mainstream when on stage and deliver an alternate reality filled with such surreal moments as a slide show about a family vacation to Mars to a musical about cheese. (How's that for a long sentence?) They not only think outside of the box, but practically hurl themselves out of it in the process.

The six person improv group delivers 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?' laughs faster than you can inflate a whoopie cushion. Their off the cuff jokes are sharp, intelligent, extremely funny and leave you wondering 'How the heck did they think of that so quickly?' An improv show asks the audience to be an active part of the entertainment . The audience calls out locations, motivations, occupations, stipulations, abbreviations. Basically, they fill in the many blanks purposely left open. Then Stunt Weasel incorporates whatever was said into their next bit. Usually, to side splitting results. And no one loves it more than kids...except adults...and quite possibly poorly cryogenically frozen dead rodents stuck in a thermos. (Ask them about that last one.)

They perform an all ages comedy show every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at Kraftbrau. Unfortunately, their season is winding to a close so there aren't many more opportunities left to catch them. If you're reading this issue of the Express, the next scheduled show will be May 10. MAY 10. Tear out this paragraph and bring it with you to the MAY 10 show and get a free door prize. Although, with Stunt Weasel, it could be anything. Catch Stunt Weasel at Kraftbrau May 10th at 8pm. This is the side bar.

Stunt Weasel vs. K-College
The Improv Rumble

Stunt Weasel aren't merely the cute kids next door they seem to be. Beneath the veneer of comedy and good cheer beats the collect heart of a group of comedic ruffians looking to break every funny bone in another improv group's body: Monkapult!

"We have challenged Monkapult!" proclaims Frank Adams-Miller. "Which is K-College's improv group, but those rats, sissy-ass bastards have yet to accept the challenge."

How do you spell Monkapult!?

"However the hell you want," Frank says dismissively.

"M-O-N-K-A-P-U-L-T, exclamation point," Dave adds. As a former member of the K-College improv group, he knows all their dirty little secrets including how to spell their name.

"We sent Monkapult! a challenge," Nayt sounds like a dishonored gentleman demanding a duel. "Which they haven't responded to and I think they're hiding on that hilly campus, behind those buildings and trees, with tissues in hand, waiting to burst into tears at the sight of any of us."

"'Oooh, I can't respond because I'm overseas,'" Frank's raises his voice a few octaves mockingly.

So, Monkapult!, the challenge has been issued. Stunt Weasel and the rest of Kalamazoo awaits your response. Respond to mail@stuntweasel.com if you dare.