The skit is about pointers and is set in the Mushroom kingdom… It’s nowhere near as hardcore as the stuff that we did for CS15 but it’s my baby, so here it is.

Script after the break.

C Pointers skit. By Adam Zethraeus, (azethrae)

Cast:
Mario: Neal
Peach: Miranda
Bowser: Kelsey
Toad-Priest-Narrator: Adam

Props:
Mario: hat, generally red clothes, mustache
Peach: pink clothes, pref. dress, tiara, veil
Bowser: horns, vicious demeanor
Toad: pillow taped to head

Signs:
(Sign 1) Bowser assigns a pointer to peach in memory with this:
_
int *deviousPointer;
deviousPointer = &peach;
_

(Sign 2) Bowser inserts himself into Peach’s memory space with this:
_
*deviousPointer = BOWSER;
_

Script:
<As the scene starts, Bowser lies vanquished on the floor between Mario and Peach>

Toad<aside>: The battle was long and hard fought, but inevitably in the end, after restarting from his most recent save point enough times, the Mushroom Kingdom’s force for good, Mario, triumphed over the evil Bowser – freeing Princess Peach whom Bowser had been holding captive.

Peach<thoroughly overenthusiastically>: Mario! Thank god, you’ve saved me! And you fought so valiantly! You’re my hero!

Mario<wipes brow and appears exhausted>: Of course, it was <takes time to pant> nothing at all.

Peach: But how can I reward you for such noble and selfless service to our kingdom? <pause for audience thought> I know, I’ll bake you a cake! It’ll be huge and pink and I’ll make it sparkle and it’ll be delicious and…

Mario<interrupting>: No!… <awkward pause> I mean, it’s fine. I wouldn’t want to put you through the trouble!

Peach: I have to do something! You must have died hundreds of times saving me!

Mario: Well… umm… why don’t we just go watch a movie at my place? I’ll kick Luigi out and it’ll be just the two of us and… <more awkward pause> y’know…

<pleading voice>

Peach<aghast>: But… you mean… you want to…

Mario<incredulous>: Yes! I crossed the whole Mushroom Kingdom and squashed like a thousand goombas for you! What did you think I wanted..!

Peach<ecstatic>: Oh Mario <hugs and strokes Mario>… I’m so happy you feel that way! I do too! But we have to get married first! I’m so excited!

Mario<hesitantly>: Yeah… uh, me too!

<All characters exit but Toad>

Toad<aside>: The next few months passed very slowly for Mario as he and Peach prepared for their marriage. Finally the big day arrived. The whole Mushroom kingdom was invited to see their Princess married to the humble but very well loved plumber. Everyone but Bowser was present for the ceremony.

<Mario stands center stage next to Toad. Peach walks towards them as though up the isle. She is wearing a veil><church music>

Toad<to Mario>: Mario, do you take Princess peach for your lawfully wedded wife for as long as you both shall live?

Mario: I D…

<Everyone Freezes. Enter Bowser!>

Bowser<menacing>: MUAHAHAHAHAHAAA

Bowser: That fool Mario thought that after he defeated me, he could just have Princess Peach. <voice grows frantic> But he cant! <v-frantic> She’s mine! And only ever mine. My sweet Princess Peach <dreamy…>

Bowser<snapping to>: Little did they know that when I captured peach, the first thing I did was declare a pointer and assign it to Peach’s address in memory! That way she’ll always be mine, and I will always have access to her!

<Bowser shows Sign 1>

Bowser: Now I can ruin their infantile little festivities with ease…

Bowser: Muahahahaha

Bowser: I’ll use my pointer to Peach’s space in memory to overwrite it… <pause for very dramatic effect> <practically shouted> WITH MYSELF!

<shows Sign 2>

<as whole case is frozen, Bowser walks over to peach, picks her up, moves her to the side>

Bowser<to Peach. Creepy.>: You’ll be mine forever Princessss.<optional creepy kiss>

<bowser takes Peach’s place in the frozen scene>

Bowser<sarcastic>: Don’t I look pretty?

<marriage scene continues, all cast but Peach is unfrozen>

Mario<obliviously to the audience>: I do!

Toad: And do you, Peach, take Mario to be your lawfully wed… <exclamation> Peach? Oh no! It’s Bowser!

Bowser<Booming>: I DO!

<Bowser kisses Mario>

Mario<incredulous and startled>: But..! What?!

Bowser<gloating and vindictive>: Come on baby! <Sarcastic and menacing> I’ve got a great night planned ahead of us!

<Bowser spanks Mario, grabs him by the collar and drags him offstage>

Mario<In true Vader style(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1npdZnzP9yo)>: NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Toad<Higher Pitch>: Noooooo!

My job, aside from the universal holding office hours and grading papers was to create and maintain the website, as well as to do a couple of odd jobs such as the pictured poster (which really should have had more actual information on it). That said, holding office hours and actually teaching was by far the most fun part.

Anyway, I guess this post is most directed to people considering to apply to TA the course, so I’ll try to include some useful info. For one, it’s a lot of work, a lot of time (a fair number of people end up taking only three courses while TAing this class) and you’ll be terribly underpaid. Do it because you enjoy teaching or because you want too be more involved with the Brown CS department – whatever other reason you want. It’s also a really good way to become really familiar with the course material. Aside from academic stuff, you’ll be working really closely with 15 people or so and you’ll probably get to know at least some of them really well. You’ll have ample opportunity to get to know some of the students as well.

In short, apply! It’s worth it.