Ad-Libs - a New Joke
Well last night was our fourth installment of my improv class . . . but it was fast on the heels of another class' showcase event. They did pretty well although there were some very uncomfortable moments - some, errrrrr, interesting choices from Southron American history, and religions that I don't think we need to go over . . . but again it was fun and it was free (and it let me see what we would be doing . . .
But on to class . . .
Walk it; Talk it is quickly becoming the warm up game of choice with this week's selections being
Saturday Morning cartoons (I was Superman/Clark Kent)
Marijuana (Cop making a bust)
OZ Fest (Audience member)
the Oval Office (a wannabe button pusher - the big red button)
We'll be doing a show at the end of the class so it seemed to be a good time to set it up so . . .
Thursday, August 21st
Starting at 8pm
Mouth Restaurant
2626 Main St (just off of Good Latimer)
if it's anything like the one I saw it'll last between 60 and 75 minutes
Three of our missing comrades came back so had to do their homework from last week. Rob's ukelele was really good.
They dubbed this the start of singing improv (which scares the bejeeeezus outta me). But basically it's a four person game, with
person 1 giving a four beat line
person 2 giving a three beat line
person 3 giving a four beat line (hopefully rhyming with person 1)
and person 4 giving a three beat line (hopefully rhyming with person 2)
Basically we were told to stand facing the backstage wall . . . given a suggestion, two or three or four beats and then told to start. Where we turned walked to the fourth wall and started. . .
We were thankfully given rules as well . . . this time in order of importance . . .
1. Come in (don't just stand there and think - SAY Something)
2. Stay in Rhythm (stick to the the 4 or 3 beats your spot allows you)
3. Make Sense
4. (given to us after several attempts) Rhyme
We were cycled through several holidays and other topics (Bottled water is one that really bit me in the bum) but we got through it, and it wasn't a total suck but not a favorite.
Again a replay from last week for those who weren't there . . . still a game I dread so must mean I need to work on it a lot - but not sure how to practice it alone.
Ahhhhhhhhhh, one of my favorites, World's worst was brought out next . . . same idea, line up on the back wall, and step forward with the world's worst example of whatever the suggestion is . . .
Voice Mail was a game I saw for the first time at the showcase on Sunday. Four player game with the first player setting up a voice mail based on a suggested and then the other three picking characters and leaving a message for the caller . . . our example was pooper scooper . . .so his mom called, and his buddy who wanted a load of marijuana, and me playing off Lt Dan from Forrest Gump trying to fulfill my promise to help if he had ever gotten his own business. . . we each left a message and then it was up to him to call us back in order of importance to him. . . it worked out pretty well I think - Chad actually liked my character so I'll call that a win.
But it was another good session and not full out torture . . .
But on to class . . .
Walk it; Talk it is quickly becoming the warm up game of choice with this week's selections being
Saturday Morning cartoons (I was Superman/Clark Kent)
Marijuana (Cop making a bust)
OZ Fest (Audience member)
the Oval Office (a wannabe button pusher - the big red button)
We'll be doing a show at the end of the class so it seemed to be a good time to set it up so . . .
Thursday, August 21st
Starting at 8pm
Mouth Restaurant
2626 Main St (just off of Good Latimer)
if it's anything like the one I saw it'll last between 60 and 75 minutes
Three of our missing comrades came back so had to do their homework from last week. Rob's ukelele was really good.
They dubbed this the start of singing improv (which scares the bejeeeezus outta me). But basically it's a four person game, with
person 1 giving a four beat line
person 2 giving a three beat line
person 3 giving a four beat line (hopefully rhyming with person 1)
and person 4 giving a three beat line (hopefully rhyming with person 2)
Basically we were told to stand facing the backstage wall . . . given a suggestion, two or three or four beats and then told to start. Where we turned walked to the fourth wall and started. . .
We were thankfully given rules as well . . . this time in order of importance . . .
1. Come in (don't just stand there and think - SAY Something)
2. Stay in Rhythm (stick to the the 4 or 3 beats your spot allows you)
3. Make Sense
4. (given to us after several attempts) Rhyme
We were cycled through several holidays and other topics (Bottled water is one that really bit me in the bum) but we got through it, and it wasn't a total suck but not a favorite.
Again a replay from last week for those who weren't there . . . still a game I dread so must mean I need to work on it a lot - but not sure how to practice it alone.
Ahhhhhhhhhh, one of my favorites, World's worst was brought out next . . . same idea, line up on the back wall, and step forward with the world's worst example of whatever the suggestion is . . .
Voice Mail was a game I saw for the first time at the showcase on Sunday. Four player game with the first player setting up a voice mail based on a suggested and then the other three picking characters and leaving a message for the caller . . . our example was pooper scooper . . .so his mom called, and his buddy who wanted a load of marijuana, and me playing off Lt Dan from Forrest Gump trying to fulfill my promise to help if he had ever gotten his own business. . . we each left a message and then it was up to him to call us back in order of importance to him. . . it worked out pretty well I think - Chad actually liked my character so I'll call that a win.
But it was another good session and not full out torture . . .