by Wesley » February 22nd, 2006, 1:29 pm
I have to agree with Andy.
One of my biggest concerns from watching audience members that aren't improvisers is that sometimes they just don't seem to get it. But even if we are OK with the audience being in the dark most of the time, a "Style Show," by definition, seems like the one place where the style itself is front and center and should be highlighted. It will also encourage troupes to set styles and stick to trying them.
Before knowing what improv was, the best shows I saw set up the format very clearly, if concisely. And I've seen many an audience seem to drop an energy level over what we think is the most routine "improv" thing in the world. For example, taking a suggestion. One time I actually heard an audience member complain to his wife over the suggestion being turned. The suggestion he gave was BBQ. Without explaining what was being done or why, the improvisers launched into a word association game and then started a scene about ice hockey. The guy leaned over and said something like "I said BBQ, didn't I?" I don't think he laughed but a few times during the show after that.
Personally, I have no problem with pulling back the curtain and trying to show some of the magician's tricks. The mystery of improv might be why we have trouble filling up classes. It looks so impressive that people think there is no way they can do it. Hell, after seeing some of Tight's and Knuckleball's recent shows, I wouldn't sign up for a class because I would have said "there's no way I could do that!" But, if we let the audience know that there are skill sets and formats and structure to the playground, I think they may be more willing to sign on and give it a try.
I tried a little of this when I helped host the audience jam a few weeks ago and I think people liked it (small crowd and mostly improvisers so hard to get a true guage). I ran the status game (hold cards up to your forehead so that you don't know your status, but you do know everyone else's) and opened with explaining that "although we are making it up on the spot un here, we often do so within a set of guiding prinicples. One of those principles is known as status. Often someone in the scene has a higher status than everyone else. Just like in your own real lives where you have a different status relationship with your boss than you do with your kids. This is a game that helps show how status works."
Although, this is all side topic to the original discussion. Thank you for the suggestions. We had a mini-rehearsal last night and used a lot of them. It really helped. Thank you!
"I do."
--Christina de Roos . . . Bain . . . Christina Bain
I Snood BearImprovised Theater