WHRB Airs New Comedy Show

Look out Amos 'n Andy--Harvard students can now listen to their very own radio comedy show.

Beginning at 8:00 p.m. tomorrow night, the Harvard-run radio station WHRB, 93.5 FM, will air three comedy-dramas written, acted and produced entirely by Harvard undergraduates.

The three segments feature unrelated storylines. One describes the adventures of Gus Gespacho, a private detective reminiscent of Philip Marlowe; another depicts the life and times of a small-town boy who wants to make it big in cowtipping. The third script, called "Ed the Busdriver vs. the Shriners from Hell," focuses on life after a nuclear war.

Winthrop House roommates E. Randy Weiner '87 and Mathew D. Annenberg '87 began working on the comedy show--which is the only one of its kind in Boston--earlier this year, and they held acting auditions midway through the spring semester.

Nick Davis '87, one actor in the show, said acting in a radio drama isn't all that different from acting in a theatre, but "it gives you the chance to concentrate on just doing voices."

Engineering the sound effects, however, presents another challenge not found in more traditional theatre. "The actors go through the lines, and we dub in the sound effects later. That creates problems because we're still learning," said WHRB chief studio engineer Joseph J. Zorc '88.

Dubbing can also offer actors opportunities not found on the stage. "It's most fun when someone plays two characters speaking to each other," Davis said.

Although Annenberg has worked for the WHRB jazz department for three years, he said that Weiner and most of the other students involved with the show are not affiliated with WHRB.

"It's been a bit controversial because it's something we haven't done before, and it's bringing people in from the outside," Zorc said.

"I think it's really exciting," Weiner said *** WHRB's resources to Harvard."

If the show turns out to be popular, WHRB will probably increase its air time next year, Zorc said.

WHRB donated all of the recording equipment, but Annenberg and Weiner paid for the rest of the show's expenses themselves. Weiner said that they intend to apply for a grant from the Undergraduate Council if the show continues next year.