'Would You Rather?' Puts Vermont Comics in the Hot Seat
We all played the game when we were kids. You know, sitting around, bored out of your young minds, you and your friends start trying gross each other out: Would you rather jump into a vat of snakes or eat live bugs? Would you rather accidentally like a photo of your ex on social media or accidentally send a sext to your mother? Would you rather not be able to lie or believe everything you're told? The more ridiculous the question, the more you stood to learn about each other — for better or worse.
Maggie MaxwellAndre Medrano have kept that morbid childhood curiosity alive in their comedy show "Would You Rather?" Their adult version of the game puts a panel of comics in the hot seat. The hosts fire off an onslaught of ludicrous situations, and the comics are forced to make a decision, no matter how unpleasant. It's a way of taking naturally funny people and forcing them into a corner. How does one defend the choice to piss your pants in public once a week, as opposed to privately pooping in them daily? The questions serve as jumping-off points for comics well versed in improv.
Maxwell and Medrano launched the series in New York City in 2017, and the monthly event swiftly became a staple on the Big Apple's comedy scene — it was even shouted out by the . They tour the show around six times a year, often playing comedy festivals in cities such as Chicago and San Francisco. But on Friday, November 15, "Would You Rather?" hits Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington.
"It came from a place of two idiots riffing, but we wanted our idiotic riffing to be original," Maxwell explained. "It's also like speed dating in this very poly sort of way, because you and the audience get to very quickly know the comedians in really intimate and often hilarious ways."
By posing dilemmas such as "Would you rather break all of your promises or share all of your secrets?" and "Would you rather suffer from acute FOMO or definitely find out that ... YOLO?," the cohosts force the comics to work without a safety net. Rather than written jokes, everything is off the cuff.
"The cornerstone of the show is that you can't really make an ideal pick," Medrano said. "Sometimes that can frustrate the guests, but that makes for great comedy. We like to say that there are no offensive questions, just wrong answers. So if anyone has a problem with anything, it's not on us!"
Despite the show's NYC origins, both hosts have strong Vermont connections. Medrano attended the University of Vermont and coproduces monthly comedy shows during the winter at Sugarbush Resort in Warren. And Maxwell is newly local; she and her family moved to Burlington in February.
"I have a 1-year old son, so I haven't got out as much as I'd like to," Maxwell said. "But I've been to a lot of open mics, and I've been going to shows at the comedy club, meeting all the local comics who just kill it every week. So this was definitely an easy show to book, now that I'm friends with a lot of the local comics."
The lineup for the November 15 show includes locals Maggie PhelanMaddie McLennon and three Vermont's Funniest Comedian contest winners: Mike ThomasJared HallLevi Silverstein, the last of whom won the 2024 crown on Saturday.
So, would you rather spend some of your hard-earned dollars or miss a killer comedy show? I think we know the answer. Check out vermontcomedyclub.com for more details and to grab tickets.
Eye on the Scene
Last week's live music highlights from photographer Luke Awtry
ebbie Harry and the Harry Debbies at ArtsRiot in Burlington, Thursday, October 31: For a live music lover, no Halloween is complete without a tribute band experience. Tribute bands can vary from earnest authenticity to whimsical satire in the name of pure fun. I arrived at ArtsRiot last Thursday dressed as the Salvador Dalí Llama, clearly hoping for the latter from local Blondie tribute Debbie Harry and the Harry Debbies. The band, composed of members of Dogface and the New Erotics, was a few songs into its set as I approached the stage to get a clearer look through the darkened eyes of my oversize llama head. I saw a mix of Debbie Harrys, Harry Debbies and maybe even a Hairy Debbie Harry. Fronted by twin Debbies, the group nailed the songs, and its intentional and well-executed absurdity was further elevated by the dancing pirates, raccoons, cows and corpses in the crowd, checking all the boxes for a great Halloween show.
