Colin and Brad's Recipe for Instant Laughter
Posted: March 27th, 2007, 4:44 pm
This is a recipe from Colin Mochrie's website. Currently, him and Brad Sherwood are on tour. Unfortunately, they're not scheduled to appear in Austin anytime soon. I really like the recipe they came up with here.
Ingredients:
6 cups listening to other actors
6 cups quick reaction time
3 cups passion for variety and new situations
1 cup lack of preparation
2 cups wit
11/2 Tbs. trust in yourself
2 Tbs. trust in the other guy
1 handful of unpredictability
3 cups self-confidence
1 set loose clothes
2 cups sense of play
1 shtick (1/2 cup) pure fun
1/2 cup attempts to break each other up on stage
1 faked death, the more horrible the better
Sprinkling of swear words, to elicit easy laughs
2 cups ability to put aside any residual shyness or inhibitions
1 cup canniness for choosing right audience volunteers
6 cups good energy (laughter, not new age philosophy) from audience
2 cups fearlessness when it comes to looking like a complete idiot
Method:
Once the game has been established and audience members have called out situations, begin to mix the improv. It can be stirred, shaken, whipped, beaten or, preferably, all of the above, as improv comedy is often highly physical. You may want to use a whisk, but be careful of what implements you choose, taking special care to avoid foam-rubber pieces like the ones used on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
Ingredients:
6 cups listening to other actors
6 cups quick reaction time
3 cups passion for variety and new situations
1 cup lack of preparation
2 cups wit
11/2 Tbs. trust in yourself
2 Tbs. trust in the other guy
1 handful of unpredictability
3 cups self-confidence
1 set loose clothes
2 cups sense of play
1 shtick (1/2 cup) pure fun
1/2 cup attempts to break each other up on stage
1 faked death, the more horrible the better
Sprinkling of swear words, to elicit easy laughs
2 cups ability to put aside any residual shyness or inhibitions
1 cup canniness for choosing right audience volunteers
6 cups good energy (laughter, not new age philosophy) from audience
2 cups fearlessness when it comes to looking like a complete idiot
Method:
Once the game has been established and audience members have called out situations, begin to mix the improv. It can be stirred, shaken, whipped, beaten or, preferably, all of the above, as improv comedy is often highly physical. You may want to use a whisk, but be careful of what implements you choose, taking special care to avoid foam-rubber pieces like the ones used on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"