Comedian Emily Galati entertained Lakeland students in the Pub on Oct. 23. The Lakeland College Campus Activities Board sponsored Galati so that she could amuse students with her quick-witted comments.
Galati took control of being at a school in the middle-of-nowhere by creating jokes through her improvisational and observational skills in order to connect with her audience. She noticed that a student was wearing a neon yellow shirt and quickly built jokes off of the situation of having a student’s bright neon shirt draw attention.
Even as she was driving to Lakeland for the show, she was observing her environment and informed her audience that Lakeland College’s founders must have said, “Instead of starting a corn farm, we are going to grow the future and start a college.”
Galati says that she is inspired by “whatever’s going on around [her].” She makes a habit of jotting down possible future material while driving. Galati often asks herself, “What was funny to me today?”
Amy Capelle, a graduate student going for her master’s in counseling, has known Galati since about 2008.
“I went to school with her for undergrad [at Loyola University of Chicago],” said Capelle.
Capelle and Galati explained that they worked together in the library. Capelle had never seen one of Galati’s shows before and seemed surprised to see a past undergraduate classmate perform at a small school like Lakeland.
Galati’s set of jokes included topics ranging from musicals and literature to politics and sexism. For example, in Galati’s commentary on makeup and the glass ceiling, she said, “Makeup is just a face-wash away from friendship…I went to work one day without makeup; I got a raise.”
Stephanie Burgardt, sophomore English major, said, “I thought [the performance] was a lot of fun. Some of her jokes didn’t get there, but she had quite a few good ones.”
Galati’s closing joke was “How to graduate from college in one year.” In her fictional PowerPoint, Galati shows highly-revered historical figures. For each person, she counters it with an image of her fictional Professor Colins—staring at her breasts, buying beer for minors, and doing inappropriate (sexual) actions.
According to Burgardt, Galati’s closing joke was her favorite because “it was something everyone could understand and relate to, and it was a great way to end the show.”