There are only about five places where you can hear a daughter scream, “Why are you guys so traditional!?” to her lesbian parents, and apparently a Theatre Fairfield Improv show is one of them.
Yes, comic gems such as those were present last weekend as Theatre Fairfield’s two improvisation ensembles, Baker’s Dozen and On the Spot, put on a series of performances at the PepsiCo Theatre.
What went on over that weekend make you think about what these guys do. I know that people like to think that Improv is only supposed to be funny, and funny it definitely was, but upon reflection there were other features present at those shows. Improv really is something of an art.
It’s impulsive, but well-thought out, and while the performers excel at being spontaneous, it’s impossible not to notice to just how methodical the whole process can be. Each group could divine a little less than an hour’s worth of inspiration just from hearing a series of locations, or interrogating someone on the contents of their wallet. That’s skill.
And the people who put on the shows were very much an integral part to their success. I did not see a single person on stage that couldn’t make the audience laugh, and there were definitely people who were having good nights. Gary Pelletier ’09, Ioanna Psaroudakis ’07, Tony Da Costa ’08, Elizabeth Krane ’09 and Dan Scivoletti ’07, were some of the biggest crowd-pleasers on stage.
But it couldn’t all be good. A real gripe to be had with Improv is that there were moments on stage when nobody seemed to know quite what was going on- but hell, that’s what’s it’s all about. These troublesome moments seemed to be few and far between, as the players didn’t seem to have too much trouble syncing up all too often. Most of the audience usually left with something good to talk about, with the exception of this guy I was sitting next to, but fear not, for he was a tool.
Overall though, Improv is still a good time to be had at Fairfield University. There is both experience and fresh talent present, and I would even say that the whole thing operated like a well-oiled machine.
And to all those naysayers who think that Improv can be dark and basic, I only need point to such great acts such as the tree that murders people, the adventures of a drunk and probably senile detective, and the little girl who violently abuses her aging grandfather.
Well, okay, fine. It can be childish at times, but Improv at Fairfield proves to still be funny as hell.
Leave a Reply