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by mpalmie2 on October 21, 2021

Live From Smith Center, on a Tuesday Night

Six Gents’ Triumphant Return to the Stage

By Nicole Patano ’22

On Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 11 p.m., Providence College students gathered in the lobby of the Smith Center for the Arts, anxiously waiting for the doors to the Ryan Concert Hall to open. Once the crowd streamed in and took their seats, the first live Six Gents show since winter 2020 commenced. 

Headed by president Sydney Cahill ’22 and vice president Jack Grosso ’22, PC’s sketch comedy group is looking forward to a year which promises drama, laughs, and fun. Cahill and Grosso were joined on stage by treasurer Aidan Benjamin ’23, secretary Analisa Pisano ’23, Abbie O’Connell ’22, and Katie Vennard ’22. While it worked out that the group consists of six gents (and ladies), the members are hoping to get more involvement, holding auditions this past Sunday.

Six Gents began with a sketch which Benjamin particularly enjoyed because “we played ourselves.” “Gents Tank,” a play on the popular “Shark Tank,” saw the three newer members of Six Gents pitching ideas for a group rebrand. After nixing “Six Gents: The Musical” and “Six Gents on Ice,” the group concluded that they should do the “Ray method,” completely changing the outside but keeping everything else the same.

During the show, the group tapped into some of the most important current issues on campus and in the United States, including the anxiety-inducing experience of asking for a to-go box at Raymond Dining Hall and the inefficiency of the USPS. They taught the audience what not to do when interviewing for a job and how to distinguish between a Dean Sears quote and an inspirational Home Goods sign. 

One of the most popular sketches was “Ghost Stories,” written by Cahill and Pisano. In it, a group of friends tells ghost stories while sitting around one of the fire pits on Slavin lawn. They soon learn that not everyone is cut out for storytelling, or paying their taxes. Another popular sketch, written by O’Connell, required Grosso (Hugo), Pisano (Kim), and Benjamin (Ted) to attend throuple’s therapy. In addition to their interpersonal problems, the throuple must also deal with the ignorance and bigotry of their therapist, played by O’Connell. 

Most of the show’s attendees were seniors, which can be attributed to Six Gents being unable to perform live last year. “When I joined Six Gents during our “COVID year,” said Benjamin, “we weren’t able to have any shows, so most people forgot about us. Now that those restrictions are being lifted, Six Gents is ready to introduce ourselves to the underclassmen who haven’t met us yet!” 

Despite the smaller venue—Six Gents usually performs in the Angell Blackfriars Theatre—and crowd size, Vennard said that the audience was “great and interactive.” One audience member, Alexander Cannon ’22, stated, “I saw the Six Gents’ performance and thought it was hilarious. As one of the 140 people in attendance, I think that they would benefit from and deserve a much bigger budget.” 

Six Gents received half of the budget they requested from Student Congress, which is necessary for purchasing props, costumes, and equipment. However, they are not letting that stand in the way of their success, planning two more shows this semester and an additional three next semester. The group’s next show date has yet to be determined, so Vennard encourages everyone to “please stay tuned with the Six Gents instagram @sixgents.”