'sLAUGHTERhouse '05'

The Princeton Triangle Club provided some comic relief to recent events with its annual frosh week show, entitled "sLAUGHTERhouse '05," last Friday night in Richardson Auditorium.

As in past years, the show was a collection of scenes from previous Triangle productions.

This Septemeber, two scenes from last year's fall production, "Puns of Steel," and two scenes from the spring show, "Rude Olympics III," were added.

Showtimes were another change this year. The times were adjusted to 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. this year. In past year, the shows were at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Triangle did this to encourage more students to come to the earlier show, and it worked, members said.

"I thought the show was really funny, and I'm glad we had it despite the week's events," said Charles Mugnolo '05.

The later show was traditionally rowdier, and Richardson was covered in toilet paper, paper airplanes, and confetti even before the show began. Many upperclassman attended the show and chimed in with the actors for well-known lines.

"As a freshman, the audience is shouting and yelling. You are bewildered by some of the jokes, and you don't quite know what is going on," Sunny Park '03 said. "But as an upperclassman, you can laugh more comfortably at the jokes and know exactly what is being alluded to in [them]."

There was a debate as to whether to have the show in the first place after the terrorist attack on the nation last Tuesday. Triangle members replied with the well-known theatrical attitude — on with the show.

"Art is not going to be surpressed," cast member Ellie Kemper '02 said. "We are just creative people having a good time. After the past week, it helps the student body to be able to laugh together."

The big surprise of the show was the cameo appearance of Dean of Admissions Fred Hargadon, who had been on sabbatical for the fall semester. He was greeted with a standing ovation by many students in the audience.

"I was so surprised when Dean Fred came on stage. The audience loved it," Laura Johnson '04 said.

The comedy provided well-needed relief to a depressing week in our country, and like the book that provided the punny title, seemed to be anti-violence in its own way.