Austin Improv

jury members used to bust my ass for starting too many scenes by messing with the chairs. jon called it chair comedy and yes, it's a fall back. and yes, he can kiss my ass.

Wes used to combine favorite physical action and favorite character and he started scenes by lifting and firmly planting a chair center stage. He then sat in it and took on his "Asshole in a Chair" persona.

He tried to pull that shit last week, so I walked out and said "Have a seat, asshole", as he was planting the chair. I think Val was the only one who laughed.

I smiled, but it's because of the sheer irony of the fact that Wes IS an asshole.

*smile*

that one never gets old...

Dan O'Connor once said that if you don't know what to do with a scene, start making a drink. Buys you some time to think, and there's a lot of things you can do with it. Of course, now when I see him do a scene I kind of laugh when he does it, because I know he has nothing.

I used to always start scenes digging a hole or chopping wood. Nowadays I usually pace as if there is something weighing heavily on my mind. But my favorite action to start a scene is going up and flipping huge levers and switches on some unidentifiable contraption on the fourth wall. Given enough time, it will have more doo-dads, wheelie deals, compartments and buttons than I can possibly remember.

Sara - mix cake batter; load washing machine; repell

Can I answer for my troupemates??

James - grab back of chair, lift, slam it down backwards, & sit
Gene - tend bar
Michael - grab microphone and start lounge act
Eric - stand in wings
Amy - sit quietly (bench/chair)
Frank - fall down dead or dying
Bryant - dance a jig

Love you guys!!!

xo
Sara

I used to wash dishes, then I figured that was getting old. Now I mess with chairs. Which is getting old. I should think about this. I like the idea of having a different physical trait for each charater. Not sure I could make it happen, but it sounds good.

One of my favorite go-tos is pulling a gigantic sheet off of something, and then whatever is underneath is a surprise and starts the scene.

My fallbacks are swimming, climbing or hanging from a rope.

Usually, i try to notice how i'm standing, or the way i entered the scene. Then I react to the scene and try to adjust my physicallity to amplify my reaction.

I'm constantly pissed off that I can only ever think of like 4 actions, or 3 locations. Sweeping, smoking, reading paper, office, house, nebulous. I mean there's so many damn actions. When someone goes out cracking a safe I'm like "I never ever would have thought of that."

I also have a thing where if I think of some good action early, I won't do it cuz it feels like cheating. Like its not improv. Trying to get over that.

Just the other day I had to play a lot of different women in a show and I made a wonderful realization. WOMEN HAVE PURSES! God damn. You can pull anything out of there. And the style of the purse can suit the character. Fun.

DollarBill wrote:I also have a thing where if I think of some good action early, I won't do it cuz it feels like cheating. Like its not improv. Trying to get over that.

I'm the same way. I think I've gotten to the point where I'm alright with it, provided that I don't plan anything else. "I'm going to go out there swinging an axe" versus "I'm going to go out there swinging an axe because I want to cut down that tree and my scene partner is an environmentalist."