Free Beer Episode IV: A Brew Hope

The Horrible Friends—Duke of Kent Legion

After all these years of working together on The Jenny Awards, I finally caught its host, Shawn Kowalke in the act, as he and fellow Horrible Friend, Luke Falconer, worked their way through various theatre games and random silliness.

I wasn’t the only one guilty of Schadenfreude as we watched Shawn take multiple hits from a plastic baseball bat wielded by an audience member trying to earn his free beer by dislodging the supernaturally stubborn post-it notes adhering to Shawn’s shirt. Later, Luke suffered the same fate. (I’m thinking this bit was drawn less from the theatre games ouvré and more from the “stupid-things-that-guys-do-when-they’re-drunk” category.)

They adeptly teased suggestions from the initially reticent full house audience, who clearly delighted in the results. They worked surprisingly well in the tiny performance space, dominated by a supporting pillar. (Unfortunately, if you sat far stage right, as I did, your main visual was their butts.)

It was a laugh-filled hour in a pleasant little venue with bar service throughout the show. Monday was their first sell out. It won’t be their last!

Coral McKendrick