Captain of the Improv-uh-bles' ship likes riding the waves of laughter

By Aaron Falk

May 6. 2005 | The couple is arguing over which brand of TV dinner they should purchase. Swanson's? Or Hungry Man?

Fed up with the debate, the husband begins to walk away, exaggerating his dependence on an imaginary walker ­ an awkward motion made only more comical by his size.

"Oh, don't forget your rash cream," the man says to his wife. The audience in the room called the Black Box breaks into laughter. Ricky Hacking breathes out and starts to relax.

"It's a rush," said Hacking, the senior-most member of the Improv-uh-bles, a student improv comedy group. "You're always a little bit nervous before the show because you're worried that you won't be funny and you won't connect with the audience. But once you get that first laugh, then it's smooth sailing."

The show proceeds without a hitch, and it quickly becomes clear that if the sailing is smooth, it's because Hacking is the ship's captain.

The group races through bits about a woman with no legs climbing Mount Everest, an awkward encounter between two cousins ­ the male part played by Hacking ­ who are in love with each other, and a murder mystery, in which Paris Hilton dies after she eats her Chihuahua.

"It ended up being a good show," he said. "I felt good about it. I was the only guy and I got to play in almost all the games.

"There were a lot of girls -- definitely a lot of estrogen. They're funny and they have good chemistry."

After the performance, the audience mingles with the cast, but Hacking receives the most attention. Hacking said that making people laugh is something he receives a lot of joy from.

"I enjoy the whole process of making someone laugh and realizing that, from start to finish, you created that," he said. "Maybe like a week after a show, I'll be walking into Wal-Mart and someone will say, "Hey. My roommates and I are still laughing about that joke you made."

Hacking, 25, got started in improv after watching an Improv-uh-bles' show in 2002, his freshman year at Utah State. He e-mailed the group, was given a tryout and secured a spot.

But recently, Hacking has shied away from the Improv-uh-bles in favor of a group he started called "Do You Want Fries with That."

"I started to realize that people paying to come see me and I wasn't seeing any of the money," he said. "But the theater department was making bank off my quips and jokes."

Hacking said that while the move might strike some as greedy, he doesn't feel guilty about his decision.

"It might sound greedy, but I'm up there performing and I'm not getting anything back ­ except for the joy of performing," he said. "It takes time out of my schedule and I could be making money at my other job. I'm a poor college student."

The group performs with some regularity at local high schools and at Funatics, an entertainment spot on Main Street.

To stay fresh for his performances, Hacking said he practices whenever he can, especially in the shower.

"Lots of voices in the shower," he said. "Before the show you go through all your voices and a bunch of scenarios. You use different voices and try to get your creative ­ I don't want to say juices ­ you get your creativity going."

"Wow," Hacking said and then, constricting his vocal chords, said the same word again only an octave higher.

"See, I change the pitch and now I'm feeling very creative."

After graduation, Hacking said he would like to try his hand at a major improv club in either Los Angeles or Chicago.

But aside from improv, Hacking said he has been trying his hand at standup comedy, scripting jokes instead of relying on spontaneity and the other members of the group. He said his first show, an amateur night at the Sherwood Hills Resort in Sardine Canyon, was a good experience, but had its share of awkward silence.

Hacking said making fun of himself ­ especially his weight ­ was the best way to get the crowd going again.

In addition to standup, Hacking has also hosted a plethora of university functions. In 2003, Hacking won the Mr. USU competition, after performing a skit where the hefty 25-year-old dressed up like a scantily clad mermaid.

"It's fun," he said. "But I think this college is getting a little burnt out on me."

Hacking said winning the Mr. USU contest and emceeing campus functions has helped him meet people.

"The best thing about it was being able to go to people's apartments or houses and having them recognize me," he said. "And by 'them,' I mean 'hot chicks.'"

Minutes later, a girl walked up to Hacking, who was sitting at a table in the Quadside cafe.

"Do I know you?" he asked.

"I think so," she said. "You were Mr. USU. Right?"

Hacking laughs. His point has been made.

But, he said, there have been times when his performances have flopped.

"I did a joke right after the Lori Hacking murder," Hacking explained.

"I got up and said, "Yes. My name is Ricky Hacking. I am related to Mark and Lori, we're like fifth cousins once removed. Or at least one of us was.

"The crowd started booing and I said, 'Woah. Woah. I feel bad for the guy. I hate mattress shopping, too.' That joke didn't go over too well. And, needless to say, I cut that one out."

Still, Hacking said he likes the awkward moments and said he truly believes laughter is always necessary.

Born in Saudi Arabia, hacking moved to Seattle when he was 4. His mother had been diagnosed with cancer and the University of Washington Cancer Institute was one of the best facilities in the world.

When Hacking was 10, his mother died. While he said it was traumatic, he said he's learned to cope by laughing.

"When someone makes a 'your mom' joke, I say, 'My mom's dead." Hacking said. "I love the awkwardness of it. But life goes on. She had a sense of humor. She would have laughed at it.

"You've got to keep on laughing."

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