A Few (Thousand) Nights at the Improv

What do you usually think of when someone says "theatre?" Maybe a Broadway showing of Hamlet? Perhaps a performance of Moulin Rouge! or Rent? Or maybe you're a little less inclined to theatre shows, and you go for something a little less formal; namely, the Improv. A night of insanity, laughter, and oftentimes surprising cultural poignancy.

While improvisation itself has no date of invention, the act of storytelling has existed since the beginning of humanity. Telling and acting out events, scenarios or perhaps myths and legends has been a long tradition with mankind that can often be seen today in other cultures and forms of theatre. However improvisation, or simply improv, is a slightly more polished stone.

(Image courtesy of http://hotcelebstalk.com/2010/08/16/mullet-monday-comedy-vs-tragedy-mullet/)

Like storytellers, improvisers work within certain parameters, yet with a certain degree of freedom. An early example of this would be the Greek Mime (inspiration for the Comedy & Tragedy masks associated with theatre today), and the Commedia D'ell Arte, which was a form of performance in Europe during the 15th century, and went on as such for two-hundred years (www.creativity-engineering.com). Actors would follow a basic path of story called a Scenario, using whatever means to get from one pre-set plot point to the next without a written script. Actors would wear special masks that represent the typical characters present in such a story, such as the young fool, the stingy old man, the upstanding lad, and the lover (the latter three seen in the image below). In Africa, improvisation is a central part of culture. The tradition of audiences there is to shout praise and scorn for the characters, causing each show to be just a little different. Some African countries still continue a tradition very similar to Commedia, with basic plot outlines and character masks (Felner, Orenstein, 151).

(photo courtesy of http://www.ravenwoodmasks.com/)

However, modern Improv has changed to become a bit less direct in its construction. Like the Commedia D'ell Arte, there are modern improvisation groups that can sometimes travel from place to place. But these groups more often than not use very little to start their performance from. Oftentimes they will ask the audience for suggestions on places, jobs, situations, etc. and make up the performance as they go along, often introducing a hint of modern cultural and political comedy and controversy.

Most people would look up at the stage and ask "what's so special about just acting goofy?" As the stars of the once-great improv show Whose Line Is It, Anyway? can attest, it takes a certain degree of training to be able to think quickly and adapt to a given situation, even within a few set parameters, much less being able to do it in front of an audience. Actors are required to go through diligent exercises, both physical and mental, to keep their bodies and minds loose and agile in order to act upon the urges that first pop into their heads. Not to mention actually learning the ropes of comedy itself, which is usually the overall theme of an improv show, if not the sole intention.



As the above clip can attest, it does take a certain amount of talent (and restraint) to keep it together on stage while still making the experience comical for an audience. The scene above involved audience participation, in a game called "Sound Effects." Like the Scenarios of the Commedia D'ell Arte, there are certain 'games' that can be played to give the actors some sort of set up for their performance.
Another example would be the game 'Ding' where an a group of actors will begin speaking on a random subject. And when one of the other actors, or members of a small audience shout "ding!" they are required to immediately change to a new subject, tone, or even character, sometimes mid-sentence.

Whose Line Is It Anyway? is also a fine example of the concept of 'theatresports,' created by Englishman Keith Johnstone. He believed that, in his day, theatre had become too pretentious, excluding the audience of average people. And so, in an attempt to draw those people (who typically watched sporting events and boxing matches) Johnstone created the idea of opposing teams of actors, competing to create the funniest skit they could out of nothing. The winner would be decided either by audience applause, or by a pre-selected judge (www.improvcomedy.org). The idea being that conflict, or in this case competition, draws an audience.
In the case of Whose Line, the judge is also the host of the show, Drew Carrey. Of course, the idea of theatresports is also shown its age by the show, as they announce at the beginning of every episode: "Welcome to Whose Line Is It Anyway? where everything's made up, and the points don't matter!"

While Improv may not be the most refined of the theatrical arts, it is and has always been the most accessible. While it is our hope that through improv performances, we can becomes more acquainted and comfortable with the more theatrical forms of performance, we do appreciate the levity and talent it takes to perform on-the-spot before an audience.

http://www.creativity-engineering.com/history.html
http://www.improvcomedy.org/history.html
Felner, Mira, and Claudia Orenstein.The World of Theatre: Tradition and Innovation. Boston: Pearson Education Inc., 2006. Print.