The cast and crew of Victoria College’s sketch comedy show The Bob have a lot to be laughing about. The revue, now in its 132nd year, is just one week away from this year’s production, The Holy Bob. Co-directors James Hartnett and David Read seem confident that this will prove to be their best and most hilarious effort to date.

“We have a lot of offensive stuff this year,” brags Read, a third-year English major.

With such a wide variety of comedic influences-from David Cross and Bob Odenkirk (of Mr. Show fame) to Spinal Tap’s Christopher Guest, from classic Britcoms like Faulty Towers, to bitterly depressing Russian dramatist Anton Chekhov (which I think/hope was a joke)-it’s hard to see how this show could not be funny in some respect.

With these influences in mind, the duo is quick to recognize the comedic power of pushing for the outrageous. “It’s not really that creative if some people aren’t taken aback by it,” explains Hartnett, who majors in Philosophy. “If they’re not taken aback,” he concludes, “then what’s the point?”

The Bob, born back when Victoria College was located in Cobourg, was founded in 1871 when a fun-loving janitor by the name of Robert “Bob” Beare hosted an impromptu performance of music and sketch comedy. Shortly thereafter The Bob became a popular annual tradition.

Although The Bob is composed primarily of Vic talent, the directors make it clear that the show isn’t just a big in-joke for fourth-year students of that college. Hartnett reveals that “over the years it’s gotten away from that, and now it’s just a comedy show.”

Coasting off of a successful run last year, both directors have big and amusing plans in store for this year’s incarnation. Hartnett and Read, who originally hail from the twin capitals of Canadian comedy (Caledon and Markham, respectively), are intent on getting the point across that their show is not just bathroom humour.

“Sometimes you go to a show and every skit is about penises, and some are about vaginas, and while our show is like that a bit, we also have a wide spectrum of different types of skits,” deadpans Read. “We also have one skit that’s just a parade of offensive stereotypes,” he adds.

So basically, if you think the Air Farce is funny, you will most likely not get the humour of The Holy Bob. But that’s OK. You should go anyway and challenge your comedic limits. As an added plus, Read advertises the fact that “we have a babeolicious cast,” and adds, “Honestly, I would say that every girl in the cast is good-looking.”

At five bucks a pop, the tickets are practically a giveaway, and if you still need convincing, visit their website at www.vicbob.com and watch their online trailer.

The Holy Bob runs November 18, 19, and 20 at 8 pm at the Isabel Bader Theatre (93 Charles St. W).