campus life from dusk to dawn - University of Toronto Magazine

MATH PROF AND AMATEUR COMICJEFFREY ROSENTHAL EMBRACES RANDOMNESS– BOTH ON STAGE AND IN CLASSGamesBY STACEY GIBSONChanceofIT’Sa snowy Friday night in February, andwind lashes at the clusters of young professionalson their way to the Irish pubsand Greek restaurants of Toronto’s trendyDanforth strip. But inside studio two of the Bad Dog Theatrea three year-old, hole-in-the-wall comedy joint – the heat ismaking the audience flush harder than an off-colour AndrewDice Clay routine.The ratcheting temperature can be blamed on the tinyquarters: the 400-square-foot windowless studio holds 25spectators and four maniacal comedians, who are performingimprov for the pay-what-you-can crowd. A comedic versionof rapier sword-fighting, improv is an intellectual sport inwhich each strike of an ad lib helps build a scene. The troupemembers play off one-liners (or “offers”) that they throw eachother, parrying and jostling their way to laughter or careeningdownward to a thud of silence.Perhaps the most boisterous troupe member is U of Tstatistics professor Jeffrey Rosenthal – a six-foot-three, scruffyfellow with broad shoulders, a head of curly brown hair and athunderous voice. (“He is Little John from Robin Hood,” saysimprov buddy Mike Ranieri. “A big, burly, lovable guy.”)Rosenthal ricochets from playing a son yearning for the acceptanceof his housepainter father to a jilted housewife. Then –channeling a bellowing, frenzied version of Mel Gibson inBraveheart and adding the most diabolical Scottish accent outsideGlasgow’s Barlinnie prison – he turns to a familiar role.He roars: “Alright then little boys and girls. It’s me first dayteaching so I don’t want anybody giving me a hard time. Thatincludes yew.” [looking at a cast member in a chair]Student [cast member]: “Yes, Mr. Angus.”Rosenthal: “Now look – I was told that you’re a difficultclass. So here’s what I want you to do. I want you to just cowerin fear and repeat after me: “I’m a miserable NOBODY.”Students [cast members], en masse: “I’m a miserable nobody.”Rosenthal: “You’re really not a bad class after all.”WWW.MAGAZINE.UTORONTO.CA 31PHOTOGRAPHY: LIAM SHARP