This post is inspired by Charna Halpern’s Improv Nerd appearance, linked at the bottom.
Have any of these thoughts crossed your mind?
“I’ve played that form before. I know it.”
“Two person scenes aren’t complex enough to satisfy me.”
“The audience isn’t laughing, I better make a joke.”
“Spatula was a good suggestion.”
If they have, it’s likely you need a fresh insight into improv. Heck, every improviser does from time to time. Complacency is a trap that we fall into often in improv as in life. Like any art form, improv takes practice, diligence, and a constant reassessment of one’s craft. No improviser is perfect, and the sooner we realize that, the sooner we’re able to take onboard the genius of those who know this world better than us.
Enter Charna Halpern, the founder of the IO theater in Chicago (formerly Improv Olympic).
Charna Halpern and Del Close. Source: ioimprov.com/chicago/about/
If the name is not immediately known, well, it’s strange that you would have made it this far. She is improv. Her name is synonymous with high-skill improvisational theater. IO is home to some of the best in the business. And she has much to share. Her publications on the subject are well-known and insightful. Heck, Truth in Comedy is basically the foundational guide to long-form as we know it. But deeper than that is her biting insights in Art by Committee, where she tears into the Harold and dissects teams that have bested the form.
But the main point today is that Charna is a source for countless one-line inspirations that you can jot down in a notebook and read before a show. These quick notes will help you be a better improviser because they give you that brief side coaching idea, distilled down past the drivel and wordiness. With this one idea, you can walk on stage (or into rehearsal) with a goal.
My recent favorite from Charna is “Play a flawed character.” I’ve tried to bring it onto stage with me several times, resulting in scenes that pack a visceral energy the normal happy-go-lucky character just can’t get to. For instance, in a recent father-son scene, I played a father lambasting his son in no uncertain terms for being a disappointment. I yelled at him for failing at college. When he talked back, I slapped him. This was tense. My partner was in a position where there’s no joke and no relief from the verbal and physical abuse. We both had to trust here: my partner that I would gift him an out and me that my partner wouldn’t break the tension. Eventually we found it by naming our family: the Ronald Mcdonald’s. The stark contrast between the levity of the initial scene and the silliness of the reveal resulted in great audience response, as well as a fun motivator. But the takeaway is that if I had not chosen to play an abusive father, we wouldn’t have gotten there. Play a flawed character, and enjoy it. Thanks Charna.
For a bevy of knowledge from Charna Halpern, check out her Improv Nerd interview with Jimmy Carrane. Or find Improv Nerd episode 30 on iTunes. Happy improvising!