The curtain rises. The crowd gets quiet. Jonathan Hatch and David Dobson offer a few words of warning to the audience: “It is very important not to mistake this for a polished dramatic production.” Then Assistant Professor of Theater Studies Sean Martin bursts in from stage left, resplendent in silver-satin cowboy shirt and sleek black jeans, his cowboy hat hanging like a great winged bird. Next thing you know, he’s wailing along to the karaoke version of “Fancy” by Reba McIntyre, and you’re wondering what the hell you’ve got yourself into.

And so it goes, act after act, and the talent-less talent show has provided yet another great evening of humor and entertainment for the Guilford community.

The Guilford Follies, the strange brainchild of Assistant Professor of Mathematics Jonathan Hatch, is a collection of music, humor and dance acts performed by Guilford students and faculty. The idea of a variety show had been discussed, but it didn’t become a reality until three years ago when Hatch arrived at Guilford.

It was a bit of surprise. “Before I even got to campus, they asked me to run it the first year,” said Hatch

He describes the purpose of the Follies this way: “A talent show, but really [its] more a lighthearted, funny, get up on stage and embarrass yourself and be amusing and entertaining [thing] . to try to bring the community together more.”

Although the lack of participation this year may have held the length down, the acts were entertaining. Of particular note were the four music numbers in the latter half of the program, including an Irving Berlin act (“Sisters,” from the film White Christmas); a pair of songs performed by Noah Shinasi; a swing dance number by the Inner Light Lindy Hoppers; and a stirring rendition of “These Boots were Made for Walking” by the Guilford Sign Language Club.

The audience was responsive and frequently involved, whether someone was wearing Dave Dobson’s clothes for the Faculty-Student Smackdown, or just yelling encouragement at those foolish enough to participate in the games onstage.

Hatch and Dobson, the M.C.s and masterminds of the Follies, put great effort into this year’s event, which they concluded with a quiz game they called Stump the Chumps.

The prize moment in Stump the Chumps was when a faculty member excitedly responded to the question “Who is Pikachu?” with “That little yellow f***er!” Although the audience found it hilarious, Dobson promptly censured the outburst by awarding only half a point.

The members of the audience were universally enthusiastic. First-year Ryan Furlough described them as, “Flippin’ fantastic . and heck, yeah, I want to be involved in it.” Alan Wilson Rhodes said, “It was one of the funniest things I’ve been to this semester.”

The Follies were a good time for all. Although the acts are unevenly successful, the overall effect was wonderful – a casual and talented performance by several gifted students and faculty who wanted to entertain, amuse and impress the community.

“What we did onstage was no reflection on the actual theatre department,” Hatch mused. But it was good fun for everyone.