Stand Up Comedian Ignites Exonian Laughter

“You know what they say when you get a gig at Exeter: who cares.”If any other performer had started their show mocking the Academy, it would not go over too well among a crowd of Exonians. But for comedian Adam Mamawala, who performed at Exeter on Friday night, the light-hearted joke received nothing but a roar of laughter from the audience.Mamawala, after winning several comedy events in college, went on to secure the top spot in the New Jersey Comedy Festival and became one of Funny or Die’s “Top 30 Under 30” comedians. He entertains his listeners with an easy going, sarcastic humor that is sure to rouse a laugh out of anyone. “He was funny and clever,” lower Tommy Cefalu said. “He kept the whole crowd there for the duration of the show, which is pretty hard to do.”Mamawala never intended to be a comedian but gave it a shot when his friend urged him to perform at a nearby club. “I'm a pretty sarcastic person most of the time, and that quality made my friend think that I might be well suited to try comedy,” Mamawala said. “I went to an open mic night at a local comedy place and it went well, from that point forward I was hooked pretty quickly.”Mamawala continued to perform, and he gained the top spot in a festival that boasted a trip to Cancun, a $1,000 gift and a chance to perform at a New York comedy club as a prize. “With that victory, I decided that there might be more to comedy than just being a hobby, and after graduating from college in 2009 I just went for it,” he said. “I knew that I would never forgive myself if I didn't give it a shot, and I've never regretted that decision.”Mamawala’s passion for comedy comes through in his engaging and witty performances. Lower Mahesh Kumar said, “Naturally, he was a really hilarious guy, he seemed very comfortable and his jokes were rarely awkward.”Lighthearted shows like this offer an easy way for Exonians unwind and release the stress that builds up over the week. “It was a fun, relaxing activity to do with my friends,” lower Rebecca Ju said. “Exeter can be very stressful, socially and academically. Having events where you can relax and laugh with friends is a great way to destress the campus. I liked it because it was funny, and it was very much in tune with the student body and the teen culture.”Kumar, who tries to attend as many events around campus as he can, shared a similar opinion. “Exeter has a lot of fun things going on and I would never be able to experience these performances if I was not here,” he said. “I think its great that Exeter does things like this. I personally love the different opportunities that I have, and the Friday and Saturday events are a great way to be outside of the dorm and have fun.”But students were not the only ones who had a great time. Mamawala, who sometimes has dull crowds, enjoyed performing in front of quick-minded Exonians. “I really liked how smart the students were,” he said. “Sometimes you perform places where smarter, more cerebral material can go over people's heads. In last night's case, however, most of the crowd was really receptive and responsive to my material. The turnout was great too, I had an awesome time.”