So far, I’ve taken two improv classes out of 8 at the Bad Dog Theatre and in our class I can see the future comedy stars, shining through the nerves and the flumbled scenes… and I can also feel the black holes sucking all the comedy out of the room.
There are a couple people there who get up on stage, have the instructor fires off a scene or a set up at them and freeze. And I have the hardest time keeping my mouth shut, stiffling suggestions like “HE SAID YOU’RE IN A MALL. PRETEND TO SHOP!” or “HE JUST HANDED YOU AN AXE. NOT A SOCCER BALL!” It’s maddening for me to see people with absolutely no imagination. Our instructor says “There is only one wrong answer in improv – to stand there and do nothing or say ‘I don’t know’ when offered a scene.”
Bless the black holes for making an effort though. At least they’re there trying to overcome shyness or be more assertive or think faster on their feet.
Why am I there? Fucked if I know.
Maybe I want to be on stage. The other day the BDT newsletter fell into my inbox looking for volunteers to be on stage to flesh out an upcoming show and I bolted upright in my chair. Reading further they were looking for second series students. I was dissapointed but I was more surprised at my reaction.
I wanted to be on stage…
Weirdly enough right after thinking that I thought “Would anyone think I was riding on my brother’s coat tails, trying to be like him?” and it dawned on me that I have been saying that since high school. That I hadn’t gone into theatre (which I thought I was pretty good at back in the day) because Mike was there first and I probably would not be able to live up to the competition. Now I think I’m a bit past it to pick up acting but I do know that I’m having a blast in this class and I have good comedic timing as well as an active imagination.
I get up on that stage intent on killing and I will milk that class of 18 people for laughs at every opportunity given to me.
Who knows where this will take me? Maybe I might get serious about it but for now, I will gladly act like a goof for this room of strangers.
UPDATE: My bro has been voted best playwright for 2005 by eye weekly readers. Congratz!
12 thoughts on “Improv-ing My Outlook on Life”
I have to blame someone!
In all seriousness I blame that shitty grade 9 English teacher I had who’s name left me when I started to pilfer Dad’s homemade red wine. That teacher was an ambition killer from day one with his “Thank god you’re the last Healey I’ll have”.
Ha! I finally got you to write something! Can you sign my CSS file? I can sell it on eBay.
Now look. I will not be responsible for thwarting your ambitions. I think you should pursue a life on the stage. I happen to think you’re funnier and smarter than 9 tenths of the people who make a go of it. Do everything you can. Write something for yourself. Adapt the blog for the Fringe fest.
I hope my writing hasn’t crossed some sort of line.
Love
your bro
I think you just created Fox’s next reality TV show.
here i was hoping it would be a magazine celebrating the idea of medicating other people without their knowledge. what a disappointment.
I do concur. I stopped reading eye just after they listed wrong movie times TWICE.
So. I guess you hate Dose then too?
eye weekly (or weakly, to go for the cheap shot) ranks about three rungs lower than now magazine on the cool ladder, and if we’re being honest, even now’s puff pieces are targeted at the suburban braindead and teenthings with questionable taste. keep in mind their readers also voted taco bell the second best mexican restaurant in the city a few years back.
to be fair, every once in a while they do highlight the worthy, but in general i see little worth browsing there beyond the tranny hooker ads.
Is getting a nod from eye writing career death? Mike says its because Jason Sherman quit the biz.
just don’t become one of those dreaded ‘theatre people’.
sorry about the kiss of death for your brother.
Great site redesign. I’d have to alter to above quote to just “rodeo.” Glad to see you back up and running.
As the Cyndi Lauper song says “don’t be afriad to show your true colors”……
Keep going boy. You’ve been making me laugh since the day Sharkboy introduced us.
“The Balsamic region of Spain” being one of my favs.
“After being in the business for such a long time, I’ve done everything but rodeo and porno. “–Bea Arthur