Vermin in the Sky: "Mad Science" Meets Improv Show

When you put an astrophysicist and an improv troupe-in-training in a room, what do you get? Stories about the Oregon Trail, talking pigeons, rocks that look like Dippin' Dots, and more incredible skits, all created on the spot from a high-quality presentation on the Icelandic genome and killer asteroids. Effortlessly highlighting the intersections between science and the performing arts, Bandit Theater welcomes individuals of all disciplines and tastes to come see a hilarious show performed by improv-ers both new and old.

The intimacy of the venue, Seattle Open Arts Place, transformed the performance space into a lecture hall; a projector hanging from the ceiling and approximately 80 filled seats felt like a preview of college life for me as an incoming STEM major. My giddiness walking into a room that felt both like a black-box theater and a laboratory was, I must say with full confidence, completely unmatched.

The show opened with a meticulous slideshow narrated by Dr. Ian Sullivan, an astrophysicist and professor at the University of Washington. He thoroughly explained his work with the Rubin Observatory, which is an astronomy facility in Chile equipped with the largest digital camera ever built into a telescope. Sullivan et al. have been using this telescope to create precision imaging algorithms, track extraterrestrial subjects, and capture graphics of dark matter in the cosmos. Sullivan called the over 11,000 new asteroids he and his team discovered in April “space vermin in the sky,” getting laughs out of the audience while also making his presentation more accessible. He also mentioned tiny rocks that are actually separate worlds that have appeared beyond Neptune, which fueled the succeeding skits. Oohs and ahhs emerged from the audience as Dr. Sullivan, sometimes aided by his son, Brendan, presented each slide with incredible diction and knowledge, setting the stage for the skits to come.

The mini improv-skits that followed the physics research were both funny and insanely clever. The actors used nuggets of learning from the opening presentation along with the power of “yes, and” to bring the science to life in otherwise unrelated and ridiculous scenarios. One moment in particular that my mother and I found absolutely hysterical was when Tami Aránquiz and Eloise O’Loane, two members of the improv troupe, created a world in which they were trapped talking pigeons. The premise of the skit was strikingly outlandish and “mad,” as the title of the show implies; yet, the scene only grew funnier when I recalled the fast-moving asteroids that “might as well be flying,” which the actors were referencing. Initially, the dynamic of the skits was tricky to follow; the connection between the plotlines of some scenes and details from Sullivan’s research often did not become apparent until well into the skits. However, the actors certainly found their flow as the show progressed, and ultimately, the show impressed on me the value of bringing science and the arts together through the right execution. The comedic timing and characterization of each member of the improv troupe complemented one another, each individual distinct enough to develop their own character while also effectively and humorously helping their troupe-mates advance the skit's storyline. During this segment of the show, the audience thrived; there wasn’t a single moment where I didn’t hear a cackle from the front row and frequent giggling from friends, family members, and devoted supporters of the improv troupe.

As an actor who has studied comedic timing, physical comedy, and improv-show formats, I had both advantages and disadvantages that impacted my experience of the show. The minute the research segment of the Mad Science show concluded, the improv-ers immediately began their first skit, building off of each other until a member of the troupe decided to run across the stage, ending the skit and triggering the beginning of a new one. Though I had witnessed (and participated in) this format of improv several times, someone new to this medium of live theatre might have benefited from a brief explanation of the way the improv flowed and the names of the games the troupe was playing. Watching the actors jump in and out of scenes and run across the stage to indicate the scene was completed might have worked for theater kids like me, but that same strategy might not indicate the function of the games to others, possibly confusing audiences and preventing them from absorbing the full value of the show until midway in. Despite this, the actors did a notable job of keeping the story arcs of each skit consistent – showing they were playing the same type of game repeatedly and differentiating each scene by using new information from the research presentation.

My disadvantage as an actor was being able to pinpoint the lulls and loss of comedic momentum in some scenes, particularly in the beginning, where the actors were finding their footing. Where others might only see a pause in the story or a funny side-tangent, I could notice when the improv-ers were internally strategizing their next acting choice and contribution, which slowed the pacing of the scene. However, I do commend the actors for finding ways to bring the skit back to life each time one of these momentary lulls occurred, especially knowing some of these brilliant individuals had only received the required Bandit Theater improv training in recent years. 

The joy and unity of the community after the one-hour show was electric. Saturday evening shows are notorious for having particularly big audiences, and the venue was certainly packed. After the audience shuffled into the open lounge space to mingle, I noticed each member of the improv-troupe begin to join and chat with members of the community who came to see the show, including myself. I had a lovely conversation with Eloise O’Loane, who began her improv career in 2021, and Chris Carter, who has been performing improv since studying Improv, Sketch, and Character at UCB in California. The two’s radiance as they spoke about their craft and their love of comedy was undeniably contagious, and getting to speak with them enhanced my appreciation of their already amusing performance. I was also warmly approached by Annie Barry, the Founder and Artistic Director at Bandit Theater, almost immediately after the show. Her commitment to meeting every member of the community after Bandit Theater hosts events spoke to the troupe’s overall commitment to making meaningful connections with others and creating a welcoming space for every person who wants to explore the comedic facet of theatre (and maybe even a bit of science along the way!).

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed Mad Science and would highly recommend the show to anyone even the slightest bit interested. As both a STEM and theater-focused woman, I don’t often see myself represented in media or live performance, so having the opportunity to watch so many talented actors bring astrophysics to life was incredibly awe-inspiring and fulfilling for me. Noticing the audience engaging with both the research presentation and the following comedy gave me faith in a future where both technology and live performance can coexist and survive in harmony with one another, supplementing each other to help both fields thrive. If you are disappointed to have missed the show, never fear! Bandit Theater performs their Mad Science segment monthly, so you have plenty of chances to go hear about some groundbreaking work and enjoy the subsequent comedy. Bandit Theater’s improv troupe did a commendable job, and I look forward to returning for their next Mad Science show!

Lead photo courtesy of Bandit Theater.

The TeenTix Newsroom is a group of teen writers led by the Teen Editorial Staff. The Teen Editorial Staff is made up of 5 teens who curate the review portion of the TeenTix blog. For each review, Newsroom writers work individually with a teen editor to polish their writing for publication. 

The TeenTix Press Corps promotes critical thinking, communication, and information literacy through criticism and journalism practice for teens. For more information about the Press Corps program see HERE.