Throughout the performance, which included slapstick comedy and a Titanic spoof, Stern and Murphy urged students to hold up red “stop” signs when they felt uncomfortable.

Students held up their signs during one scene when the male character gave the woman character a drink.

“That drink could contain lots of things—roofies, GHP, special K, alcohol,” Stern joked.

And after the laughter over the male character’s aggressiveness with the “freshman” female died down, Murphy asked the audience, “How many people have seen something like this at a party?”

Most of the audience raised its hands.

The show was advertised widely over the e-mail lists of groups on campus that deal with rape and over several House open lists. One psychology class—Psychology 1703, “The Psychology of Human Sexuality—also required its students to attend the program.

Marine said she had seen the show earlier in the year and “thought it would be interesting to see how Harvard students would receive it.”

Members of the Coalition Against Sexual Violence (CASV), who have been lobbying for a changed awareness program during freshman week, said they felt that “Sex Signals” was a step in the right direction.

“We’re definitely excited that the administration is looking towards new avenues of the freshman week presentation,” said CASV member Alicia C. Johnson ’04. “There were lots of aspects of this show we’d like to see incorporated into the program.”

Johnson said CASV members appreciated the show’s freedom for audience members to participate on varying levels, the opportunity for questions and the knowledgeable presenters.

“Sex Signals” was sponsored by the University Provost’s office as part of its “Caring for the Harvard Community” program, which extends into next week.

—Staff writer Sarah M. Seltzer can be reached at sseltzer@fas.harvard.edu.