“Acting is the ability to live truthfully
under imaginary circumstances.”
-Sanford Meisner
Lately I’ve been falling out of love with improv, just a little bit.
I’ve yet to see an improv show that really truly knocks my socks off. No, I take that back – there was a Jackie show a few summers ago that dazzled me with its cohesion, evidence of the “group mind” at work. And don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen a ton of shows that were highly entertaining. But what appeals to me about improv is the promise of truth in comedy – of playing real, and having faith that the laughs will come. I can’t remember the last time I saw a show that lived up to that promise. The laughs are too tempting.
I’m hungry for the experience of playing real characters, in real situations… in a performance that is truly willing to go without laughs if they don’t come, but that avoids melodrama. No easy feat. But the prospect of it dangles in front of me like a drug.
I suppose you demand the most from the things that matter most, so my angst is probably proof that my love affair with improv is far from over. I’m hoping to scratch the itch I’m feeling with an acting class this summer.
In the meantime, I’m sitting in Tryst in Adams Morgan, and everyone around me is a potential character…