Television, TikTok take the stage
SNL comedians Andrew Dismukes and Aristotle Athari came to URI for a comedy show during the first week of classes. PHOTO CREDIT: allevents.in
While some students were tucked into bed getting ready for their first night of classes, others got up close and personal with comedians from “Saturday Night Live.”
On Tuesday, Sept. 6, the University of Rhode Island welcomed Andrew Dismukes and Aristotle Athari to the Edwards Auditorium for a comedy night open to all students and the public.
Planned by URI’s Student Entertainment Committee (SEC), the show featured Dismukes and Athari, both from “SNL,” as well as a surprise opener known on Tik Tok.
The SEC is well known for booking impressive talents and allowing students, as well as surrounding communities, to witness incredible acts and performances. In past years they have booked music artist and actor Dominic Fike and comedian John Mulaney. The turnout was impressive with almost a full auditorium of fun-loving faces.
William Gray, also known as Graysworld on the popular social media app TikTok, opened for the two “SNL” comedians and captured the audience with hilarious and relatable storytelling about his time as a fraternity freshman.
Gray had the crowd at the edge of their seats waiting for the next punchline. With jokes about psychics, age and his longer set relating to the Greek life crowd, the audience seemed nice and warmed up for the night to continue.
Taking the stage after him was former “SNL” actor Aristotle Athari, who brought the utmost humor and even included the crowd in his set.
With two delighted students from the audience, he was able to illustrate the sparkling charisma that the students at URI hold. Telling jokes of his New York experiences and a few other R rated punchlines, his brilliant awkwardness filled the Edwards auditorium with non-stop laughter.
Athari’s exaggerations on stage did not take away from the genuine reactions coming from the audience. His chemistry with the student volunteers was so natural that it almost appeared staged. Perhaps some URI students are simply television material.
The third act of the night was also an “SNL” star, Andrew Dismukes, who surfed the wave of laughter with ease, performing an original and relatable set. Joking of goths, the Boy Scouts and the lameness of participation trophies, his references appeared to translate well with the audience. He ended off a spot-on night with an even more spot-on impression of Gollum from Lord of The Rings.
Once it was all over, the auditorium poured out of the hall cheerier than they had walked in. Some feedback from the audience solidified the success of the show.
“Even as an international student, it was understandable,” said one student. “As a facility welcoming all different cultures and backgrounds, hearing that entertainment events here at URI translate well is satisfying.”
Whether it was the first set, second or third, the comedy show held at the Edwards Auditorium brought enough comical diversity and talent to please anyone’s sense of humor. SEC anticipates seeing many more faces at future events set to be announced later in the semester.