Silliness was enough to keep a capacity crowd in stitches Friday night in the Ryan Family Auditorium as comedian Dane Cook put his childish antics to the test.

Cook’s style of humor was especially welcomed by the anxious audience, who practically booed the event’s promoters off the stage in their excitement to see the up-and-coming comedian, as he acted out a pillow fight between him and his nephew.

“He hit me in the face with a pillow,” Cook said as he demonstrated the fight, jumping around the stage as though he was trying to thrash someone. “Halfway into the pillow fight, I realize I’m trying to kill my little nephew. You’re not bleeding, bleed!”

Cook, who recently released his debut CD, came dressed youthfully in a sleeveless T-shirt and backward baseball cap. His sketches focused on childhood experiences, which created a sense of familiarity for the audience.

Cook’s biggest hit of the night was a list he made as a child titled, “The Most Horrible Ways to End Your Existence.”

No. 1 on the list: I will not be eaten by a sea beast.

“And do you know why I’m not going to be eaten?” Cook asked the audience. “I do not go into the ocean — it’s the shark’s house. If someone was on your lawn dancing and pissing and beating your house, what would you do?”

The sense of familiarity in Cook’s sketches brought out a strong comedic response in the audience, who also seemed to enjoy No. 4 on Cook’s list: getting killed by falling coins.

“You’re standing in line for a movie, and a penny goes through your head,” Cook said. “The guy in line behind you says, ‘Penny for your thoughts?'”

Comedian Robert Kelly, who often tours with Cook, opened the show by ridiculing Osama bin Laden.

“Osama just put out another video,” Kelly joked. “Who is he, Puff Daddy? How many videos is he gonna make?”

Despite Kelly’s efforts, the crowd was impatient to get to Cook’s sketches. But Kelly did unwind the audience before welcoming Cook to ecstatic clapping and cheers.

Although Northwestern was not an original stop on Cook’s tour, Matthew Turk, Residence Hall Association president, said Cook made a special trip to Evanston.

“We were looking for a comedian, and Dane Cook came most highly recommended,” said Turk, a Weinberg senior.

Student response to the event, sponsored by RHA and the Collegiate Readership Program, was positive.

“It was a great fricking show,” said David Parker, a McCormick freshman who arrived half an hour early to make sure he got into the show. “It was hysterical.”