UD students gave The Second City Comedy Troupe a standing ovation for its witty and lively performance Friday in Boll Theatre.

Making references to the 8 percent tuition increase, the student neighborhood, Dayton to Daytona and other things unique to UD, Second City appeared to have done their research to receive a guaranteed laugh from the UD community.

Elizabeth Shaheen, a sophmore, and other students from Campus Activities Board (CAB) had the opportunity to join the cast for dinner before the performance. Shaheen found that one of the comedian's girlfriends is an alum of UD, hence the cast's jokes pertaining to UD.

'Learning such oddities about the campus allowed the audience to make a personal connection with the cast,' Shaheen said. 'Especially in regards to mocking certain aspects about campus.'

Established in Chicago in 1959, Second City has launched the careers of the great comedians John Belushi, Mike Myers, Bill Murray and Gilda Radner. The comedy troupe consists of six clever comedians who performed two shows, each two 40 minutes sets of sketch comedy and improvisation. Sponsored and brought to campus courtesy of CAB, Second City continued an annual tradition of entertaining UD students, faculty, staff and area residents.

'CAB was extremely pleased with Second City's performance,' Shaheen said. 'Many people associate Second City with superstars Mike Meyers and the late Chris Farley which is the main draw for high attendance. Who wouldn't want to see improv comedians that could someday become as famous as those listed above'?

Using only chairs, a few simple props, sound effects and live music from an onstage pianist, the audience witnessed several hysterical skits. They saw a woman with pick-up line turrets, a debate team member addicted to steroids because she needs them to win and a homosexual who persuades Shakespeare's Ophelia from 'Hamlet' and Juliet from 'Romeo and Juliet' from killing themselves.

The comics impersonated a wide range of stereotypes that all audience members could relate to. When an undersexed single father of twin boys brought home a 'new lady' friend, the boys coincidently could not sleep and ran around touching dad's friend in inappropriate places. When the dad apologized for his sons' behavior, his date created loud laughter with the line, 'your kids have gone further with me than you have.'

Also included was a teacher teaching a class of impenitent idiots, a family at dinner yelling 'sit down Mom' while demanding so much that she could not, and an angry father picking up his drunken 16-year-old son from a party.

Jenny Washburn, a freshman, said her favorite part was the skit with the annoying kid repeatedly screaming 'Watch me mom!' to her inattentive mother.

'It's really true, that's how things really are,' said Washburn.

Past all the silliness and craziness there did seem to lie a truth and moral in each scene, such as do not drink and drive, do not be a pain to your mother and there is such thing as a stupid question.

On several occasions, the audience was asked to contribute to the scene the comics were performing by shouting out ideas. The scenes were improvisational and dialogue was pulled out of thin air. By the end of one skit, due to the audience's contributions, there was a son named Penis who used Valtrex and loved to shave his back. In another, there was a CEO, a secretary, Mickey and Mini Mouse at Disney World and a couple ready to watch porn. The laughs were non-stop.

It was crazy, off the wall, on the spot comedy. For more information about The Second City touring dates and theatres, visit http://www.secondcity.com.