Thegatewaynews.com - After eight years, Point of No Return still delivering laughs (WITH VIDEO)

RPC Photo / April K. Helms; Ruben Ryan, left, and Matt Dolan were among the comedians performing during Point of No Return Improv’s eighth anniversary show.

RPC Photo / April K. Helms; Robyn Cooper and Richard Harrison, right, interrogate Joel Kirk (seated) during Point of No Return Improv’s eighth anniversary show.

RPC Photo / April K. Helms; The Point of No Return Improv celebrated its eighth anniversary with a free show Feb. 20.

by April Helms

Special Products Editor

The Point of No Return Improv's Feb. 20 show was probably one of the more difficult shows for me to take pictures and video for.

You see, a steady hand is required for both, and it's hard to keep still when you are shaking with laughter at the antics of this all-volunteer troupe.

Somehow, I managed.

PNR, based in Cuyahoga Falls, has had eight years to perfect their improvisational comedy, and the members celebrated its anniversary with a free show Feb. 20. Not only did the show see a nearly full house, but a very full stage.

"Usually we try to have seven or eight people on the stage," said Bob Coppedge, one of the founding members of PNR. "But this is the one night of the year we tell everyone who wants to come and play to come. We had 14 people up there tonight. We had a bit of a traffic jam, but it was fun. That's the nice thing about this group. We are all here for fun."

Kathleen Walden, another founding member, said the idea for the improv comedy troupe came about during rehearsals for Actors-N-Theatre in Cuyahoga Falls production of "1984," based on the grim novel by George Orwell.

"It was gloomy and dreary," Walden said of the play. "We tried to make light of it and discovered that a lot of the cast had comedic talent."

The comedy troupe runs their shows in a similar format to the television show "Whose Line is it Anyway?" They take a general idea and use the audience to come up with random words and phrases (and boy, can they be random!) to move the sketch along. For the eighth anniversary show, there was even more audience participation, as the troupe had a "best audience member" competition.

Coppedge said that PNR frequently hosts their shows to raise money for groups such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, ANTIC and Red Cross. Earlier this year, proceeds from a show went to Red Cross's Haiti relief efforts.

"We have a great working relationship with the parks and recreation department in the city [of Cuyahoga Falls,]" Coppedge said. "We don't have a budget."

The troupe doesn't have many expenses, although Coppedge added, tongue-in-cheek, that PNR recently "had to buy a new bell."

Cost to see a show is a donation, Coppedge added. Suggested donation is $5, but "we want to help people have fun, and we want to fill the seats," he said.

"Whatever you have is fine," Coppedge said.

Walden said she was proud with what PNR has accomplished in its eight years.

"The people who have been here from the beginning have really grown and the new people are just amazing," she said. "It's all so fun, and they work so well together. I'm looking forward to the next eight years."

Regular performances are at the Quirk Cultural Center, 1201 Grant St. in Cuyahoga Falls. The next scheduled shows are March 20, April 3 and April 17.

E-mail: ahelms@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3153