In college, I used to really hate improv comedy. I had a friend in my school’s troupe, but I stopped going after a sketch where one of the male actors ended up with his legs wrapped around the waist of another male actor, bouncing up and down in faux coitus, shouting, “Yes! Yes! Yes!†to uproarious, bringing-down-the-house laughter.
That was my mental Polaroid of the troupe for a couple years, until my friend urged me to come to a show during my last semester. She said things were different, but didn’t elaborate, and I’m sure I didn’t believe her.Â
But she was right. Gone were the easy, seemingly irresistible sex gags. Gone were the character-sketches-wandering-the-stage scenarios, with five hams mugging and grimacing all over the stage. Most of the show featured a long, improvised story involving a high school loser dating a Prom queen. Characters, setting, etc. were solicited from the audience beforehand and written on a chalkboard behind the stage for the troupe to work in.
Transcribed, the story wouldn’t have made great literature, but somehow, working together, the cast members created a story that kept the audience’s interest (including mine). The jokes that came up were organic, related to timing and character, and funny.
I’m thinking about this now because in just a few days I shall treat myself to the closest thing to that experience Pittsburgh has to offer. I’m talking about the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance, whose monthly event (this one is “Aftermath 2007″) will occur Saturday night.
