Queen's Players

The Queen's Players is a sketch comedy/improvisation/rock and roll troupe that performs at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario in Clark Hall pub, Alfie's pub, or off campus. It produces three productions every year: one in the fall, one in the winter, and one show in the summer. The shows are cast by and with Queen's University students in a selective process each term.

The winter and fall shows differ from the summer show in various ways. The shows produced in the winter and fall semesters consist of a cast of 12 students, six male and six female characters, and are each twelve scenes long, following a continuous plot. The summer show is in the form of a sketch comedy show with a smaller cast ranging from seven to nine performers performing various scenes written by the actors themselves. However, both formats of the show divide each scene with a rousing rock, rap, or pop song sung by one of the players and performed by the show's live band.

The first manifestation of the Queen's Players was as the Queen's Drama Guild, established in 1900. Prominent members of the Guild included Lorne Greene and Robertson Davies. It was not until the 1980s that the troupe adopted the format that now makes them so popular on the Queen's campus. The shows draw characters from popular culture and has them descend upon the Queen's Campus. Each show is given a witty, often bawdy title that reflects some of the key characters in the show. Furthermore, the shows are marked by their often low-brow, ultra-sexual humour. Most of the audience and the show's cast drink heavily throughout the night; part of the show's appeal is pushing the limits, and the tolerance, of the performers.

The vocal abilities of the Queen's Players and the musical prowess of the band make it a consistent success. The show has proved itself to be the most popular show on campus, often selling each of its eight performances within the morning tickets go on sale. Queen's students have also been known to camp outside Destinations, where the tickets are sold, for several hours or even the night before tickets go on sale.

Profits from Queen's Players shows go towards local charitable causes.

Other noteworthy alumni of the QP include Ashleigh Banfield,Andrew Johnston (comedian), Andy Poole, and the Arrogant Worms.

References

* [http://engsoc.queensu.ca/players/history/players_origin/ Queen's Engsoc site on the origin of Queen's Players (c.2003)]
* [http://www.queensplayers.com/ Queen's Players official website (c. 2006)]

External links

* [http://www.queensplayers.com Official website]