The worlds of comedy and rugby will collide for a good cause when Comedian Deconstruction hosts a show Jan. 21 to raise funds for the Philadelphia Gryphons RFC trip to the Bingham Cup in Nashville later this year.
Comedian Deconstruction is a monthly show held at L’Etage featuring an eclectic roster of local comedians and improv performers. Since this month also marks the group’s Fifth-Annual Dirty Show, Comedian Deconstruction organizer and host Jess Carpenter decided to make the event a fundraiser for the Gryphons.
“The show is a comedy show that is dirty,” Carpenter said. “The theme is the comedians will get dirty on stage so the Gryphons can get dirty on the field.”
Philadelphia Gryphons vice president Ray Fitz said that Carpenter, who recently joined the team, sold him and his teammates on the idea of the fundraiser.
“Jess started playing rugby with us last season,” Fitz said. “He thought [the Comedy Deconstruction event] would fit in as a theme for rugby because we get a little dirty and messed up. So we tied the two together and thought it would be a great idea. We ran with it. It should be a lot of fun.”
Fitz said he’s probably the only member of the team who hasn’t seen Carpenter perform, or a Comedian Deconstruction show.
“All the guys went when he first started the show,” Fitz said. “Everyone has been to one of his shows but I’m going to school full-time and working, so my time is limited and I’ve missed it. So this will be my first one and I’m excited because Jess is a funny guy as it is.”
Fitz said the fundraiser, and the many other events the Gryphons host, is essential for the team to be able to compete at national and international events.
“All of our players [play rugby] in their spare time,” Fitz said. “Everyone is working and the majority of our players go to school full-time. So it’s really hard for them to travel and be able to afford to do it. So any time we are able to come together as a team and raise funds for everyone to join us, it’s always great.”
The Bingham Cup returns to the United States in May for the first time since 2010. The event is named after Mark Bingham, an openly gay rugby player and one of the heroes of Flight 93 who fought back against terrorists on 9/11.
Fitz said that participating in such tournaments is a valuable experience for the Gryphons.
“For some of the younger guys, this will be their first time going to an [International Gay Rugby] tournament,” he said, noting there are nearly 60 international teams that compete in the Bingham Cup. “Being around gay men from all over the world, [they get] to see the diversity in a sport that is usually pretty straight-dominated. So being able to fundraise and help people go and not miss out on that experience is pretty good.”
An added incentive to support the team this year: The players will be defending their 2014 title at the Bingham Cup.
“Our level is third tier, based to the degree of expertise when you play. There are four tiers and we got to third so we were really excited about that,” Fitz said. “We think we’re a much better team and we want to try and move up another tier, if not try and win the whole thing.”
He added that the spirit of these rugby competitions, while fun, is still intense and serious.
“It’s really competitive,” he said. “It’s just like any sport; you get out there and you want to win. The fact that you are playing with guys who are like you and have been through the same experiences, it’s fun but you want to come out on top. We’ve got a really good team now and we’re all competitive and all want to go down and prove how good we are. We had a coaching change this year and we’re just out to do well and have a good time.”
Fitz said that fundraisers like the Comedy Deconstruction event also help connect the team with prospective players.
“The main thing with our fundraisers is getting out there and getting known, letting people know that there is a rugby team that is open to anyone and focuses primarily on the gay community,” he said. “It’s always a great recruiting event. We pick up a lot of guys who are interested. We’ve been to bars like Boxers and we picked up a bartender who came out and played with us. We always wear our team shirts when we go out. We always need new people to come play.”
Carpenter said the short time he’s been a part of the team has been amazing.
“I really love how this team took me in and made me feel like I was finally part of a team,” Carpenter said. “I never was part of any team. It meant a lot to me.”
Comedian Deconstruction hosts the Fifth-Annual Dirty Show to benefit the Philadelphia Gryphons 8 p.m. Jan. 21 at L’Etage, 624 S. Sixth St. For more information about the show and the Philadelphia Gryphons, visit http://www.philadelphiagryphons.org/.