Improv (in the Dark)

The Alphabet Game is a standard short form exercise. (It’s perfect for a dinner party too!) In this game, two players begin a scene while continuing the alphabet with each line of dialogue starting with letter immediately following the previous letter. It looks a little like this:

Always you want to go first!

Because I’m the best punter.

Can’t you give me, the ROOKIE, a turn?

We played this game last night, with a twist: BLINDFOLDS! Other members of our class set up a ‘booby trapped’ stage, with chairs, stools, sofas, and pillows in our way. Some asked why were we doing this. One member said “its another way of getting you out of head, not thinking about what to do or say, but just doing it.” Yes, you can react more honestly with your words when you have something else to focus on…like not falling!

Another scene of improving in the dark...or at least underground!

I found it invigorating, to take something I know (improv) and put it into the unknown (darkness). First, as your sense of sight was gone, your other senses were a bit on overdrive. Heightened listening in order to respond to your partner and utilizing your touch to avoid any falls to the floor. Second, it liberated you from any constraints you might see- is your partner actively reacting, is the audience truly listening, etc.

What a lesson to take into my broader life today. Bring newness to the comfortable by taking a chance and stepping into the unknown. For haven’t we seen before, that new life comes first from accepting risk?

Am I Bovvered?

Oh yes, my lovely British friend said this one day in improv….and I completely misunderstood her. While it made our scene fantastic, she  was clearly ‘ bovvered’ by it.

Now, we can understand the wonder of this expression!

 

Art Therapy: What’s your muse?

I love the concept of art as therapy. Art allows us to be creative. To have fun. To step out of the comfortable. To make mistakes and be a kid again. My creative therapy of choice: improv.

Right now, my life seems to be enough of a muse all it’s own. There have been wonderful trips, fantastic work adventures, but major disappointments and heartbreaks too. Who needs fiction when your life is drama-filled; enough to either scare away companions or open the door, wide, for critics?

I need it. In these moments, we truly need fiction to free our minds.

Some great improvisors!

Last night at improv I got to be an Italian debutante, a screeching banshee, and a subtitle interpreter. My favorite character of all, brought in my most beloved structure of improv: long form. In playing a game called ‘freeze and justify’ myself and another actor found ourselves continually coming back to 1 story line. We were going to have a baby. Unplanned.

This repeating theme was crucial as it:

1. Brought me to go back to my improv ‘roots’ of long form .
2. Allowed us to create a story arc. In 30 minutes-with other scenes in between- we had gone from finding out this would happen to 5 years later sitting at our daughter’s back to school night.
3. Pushed me to play and play deeply with this character.

I was completely obnoxious, rude, and unsympathetic to my partner’s kind ways. I got to live in the ‘all about me‘ mindset of this character. It was liberating!

It was also humorous.  As I confessed that our kindergartner, Shanique was not his. I’d be happy for him to remain as “Uncle Steve” in her life, and take any monetary contributions for her.

Last night, I laughed, I loved, I hated, I screamed, both as myself or any of these characters.  Solely as Kate, I lived last night.

That’s what art can do. What are YOU waiting for?