Don't learn your lines

This weekend I was performing a short preview of a show I am doing this summer, AS THE SUN BURNS, for The Doug and Lisa Show. One of the co-hosts asked me, “How do you learn all of those lines?” and I replied, “We don’t, this is improv.”

Improvisation is the art form where actors make up the dialogue of the characters as they go. It is based on the actor’s keen awareness of their environment, their character and the shared goals of the actors. Actors have to be able to listen and accept each other’s ideas quickly and use them as a jumping off point for moving the scene forward. Trust and openness is a huge part of being a successful improviser; that and freeing yourself up to use your imagination.

You will likely be familiar with improvisation as a series of games you played in junior high school called Theatresports. These are a trademarked series of games developed by a genius theatre instructor named Keith Johnstone who taught at the University of Calgary in the 1980s and trained people at an iconic improv based theatre company called Loose Moose Theatre which is still known internationally as the place to go to learn technique. These games inspired the popular television program Whose Line Is It Anyway? and much to Johnstone’s consternation, many copycats. But it also spurred on some of Canada’s best and brightest performers: Patti Stiles, Rebecca Northan and AJ Demers - the list could go on and on.

But improvisation’s roots are hardly just in Calgary, it is actually really based on a classic Italian art form called Commedia Dell Arte, where there are stock characters who appear in a variety of improvised comedic scenarios that often make the rich and powerful look foolish. Italians loved to poke fun at doctors and lawyers and the young servants, or Zanni, looked smarter - getting away with their master’s money, mistresses and more. Some of the best improv I have seen has been in Edmonton and in Scotland, but it is an incredible performance art that really is practiced in companies all over the world.

It is the long form improv format that interests me the most. As excited as I am to watch the games, I always find it more interesting as an actor to be able to develop a character and story line. With no written lines the challenge is magnificent. In our soap opera AS THE SUN BURNS we establish our plot points - the basics of what needs to happen - and then we completely roll the scenes with no preplanning of dialogue. We incorporate suggested lines from the audience and have no idea how it will go or what we will say. We have to trust each other it will work and because when we do, it does.

There is training involved and time needed to develop these skills; I know I am a lot better at improvisation now than I was as a student. I have toured an improv show for over 15 years called My Favorite Fairy Tales which will be done this summer with the talented Frank Takacs which is for kids who keep you on your toes. I have taken and taught numerous classes and workshops. Like any art form, the more you do-the better you get.

I also learn by watching so I thought I would ask notable Canadian improvisors why they love improv and why it has made them a better performer. Here is what they had to say.

 

“I would recommend improv to anyone who has to deal with human beings on a regular basis. But for an artist it's invaluable. It frees you up, removes blocks, and allows you to make the adjacent choice.”

-Chris Craddock, Actor, Canadian Comedy Award Winning Writer/Producer of “Tiny Plastic Men”, “Moving Along” and many other plays.

 

“The lessons improv teaches can be applied to most any branch of performance. Being present in the moment is what every actor strives for, and nothing helps more with that than improv.”

-Mark Meer, Canadian Comedy Award Winning Actor, Star of “The Irrelevant Show”, “Tiny Plastic Men” & Comm. Shepard in the popular videogame “Mass Effect”

 

“You can never be more “in the moment” than with a well executed improvised scene. Not knowing what is going to be said or what offer made by your scene mates forces you to be uber present and really live in the moment of that scene.”

-Mark Reinelt, Local Improvisor/Teacher & Star of Shakespeare Kelowna’s “The Complete Works of Willm Shakespeare”, now playing at The Vibrant Vine.

 

Do you want to try “flying by the seat of your pants” as an actor? Like the idea of acting, but not having to memorize lines? There are lots of places to learn these skills - Bumbershoot Theatre now offers classes as does Kelowna Actor’s Studio where Mark Reinelt teaches. I will be teaching a four day workshop the first week of August with my company New Vintage Theatre. At the end of the session, guess what? You will be on stage with our actors doing a live show.

Our improv shows are also running this summer - AS THE SUN BURNS - soap opera is at The Black Box Theatre on July 25 at 10pm and August 8 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $15 and available at www.selectyourtickets.com This is a show is best for teens & adults.

My Favorite Fairy Tales is on at Gyro Beach on July 26 and August 23 at 1pm; admission is free and it is perfect for all ages.

Check out an improv show or try it yourself! You never know what will happen next.

For more information about the above mentioned programs check out www.bumbershoottheatre.com, www.kelownaactorsstudio.com, www.shakespearekelowna.org and www.newvintage.ca

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.