I don't remember enjoying this show very much. I probably did. 
I know the audience liked it. The one thing that blares from 
my memory is a sketch called "Jinx". The sketch was written 
by new member Ben Lundy who I had worked with in INSOMNIA THEATER. 
In it Steve and I are locked in a five minute Jinx match that 
had to be rehearsed no end. Opening night....we blew it. I'm 
not claiming to remember who was responsible but 5 lines into 
the Jinks one of us F-ed up and said something different. I 
was so pissed I said "Hey we're cured" and walked off.  It was 
fairly unprofessional and temper tantrumy and I'm sorry Steve. 
I had warned him that if that happened, that's what I would do. 
Once the Jinx was broken there would be no way to get back into it.  
I remember sitting on a rickety back fire escape that the girls 
used to change clothes, smoking and muttering to myself. 

Finally the funk lifted and the second act was great. In 
fact Steve and I hit the stage and tried it again and NAILED it. 
I don't think the audience got that we'd messed up in the first 
act but by the applause after the second try, they'd caught on. 
We had no problems the second night of the show. 

This was also our first show with Millie. I do want to make 
clear that I took myself COMPLETELY out of the voting when it 
came to her. She and I were already engaged and she hadn't 
performed for a while. When we held auditions, I asked her 
if she wanted to try out. She did it on a whim. I stepped 
away when the group was deciding. I didn't want there to be 
even the appearance of inpropriety (is that right?). Nearly 5 
years later she's still in the group and. 

There were several stand outs in this show. "Ransom Drop", 
"Stage Combat" and Dale's "Vandal In The Wind" (I hope Dale 
explains that later) are some of my favorites. This show also 
debuted "Night Food" and "The Scottish Song", two music staples 
for years to come. The material in the show was very strong, I 
just was moody for some reason. It was great for everyone but me. 

This also spelled the end of our relationship with Craig Foltos. 

- Eric

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Eric's right. This was just a weird show from the get-go. From the title
(which I loved) to the posters (which I don't think ever got duplicated; one
of them sits yellowing in one of my guitar cases) to my absolute
incapability to learn my lines (I think I got through the metal detector
sketch (METAL OF A MAN-e), but I blew that "old sayings shopkeeper" 
(YOU DON'T SAY -e) one big time.

I disagree with Eric on one thing, though. I absolutely think the audience
knew something was seriously fucked up when "Jinx" ended so abruptly and so
soon into it. That's why the decision to go back out there and do it again
first thing in the second act was so suicidal, yet so necessary. I don't
think anyone in the audience took it as a tragedy, but from the cast's
standpoint (especially Eric's) the rest of that show (and probably night 2)
would have suffered had Eric and Steve not dared to NAIL it and put it to
rest. The overwhelming swell of support in the form of applause and cheers
from the audience after we re-Jinxed washed away the crap that would have
prevented us from doing our best.

Wasn't this the show where we did "Pants Off"? That was just one of my
favorite sketches EVER. Also, as always, it was a lot of fun working with
Ben (was this his first show with us? They all sorta' melt together when you
get to be my age).

"Vandal in the Wind" was an encore to the tune of Elton John's "Candle in
the Wind." I have perhaps never sang a song with so much conviction as then,
when I was berating those fucking shiesters at Hix Music for purchasing my
stolen guitar then claiming they did not have it, until I sent the Kendall
County Sheriff¹s Police over to fetch it. That guitar never sounded so good
to me before or since. 

- Dale

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I have to disagree with the thoughts on this show.  I really liked it. 
I had a great time getting to work with Ben... and I remember thinking
we had some really funny stuff in this show.  Jinx was awesome and 
even though it had to be tried twice, I think the crowd loved it.  
Confused on the first go round, yes, but loved it just the same.  
Looking now at the set list... Italian Love song rocked, Pharaoh Boy 
was hilarious, Pants off was a stitch, It's Magical cracked me up 
or maybe it was just Ben), and I loved Prawn!  I think this was a 
great show - except we had to go back to Foltos and do his dirty work.
That part sucked.

- Mo Gannon (Gag 1996 - 2000)