Friday night J and I went to see performances by Season Six and Caveat, two of the performing groups with Washington Improv Theater.
Funny? Of course. What was even better was seeing our teacher perform with Season Six. Seeing how he used all the different skills he’s teaching us (and seeing how he handled the slip ups) made for many aha! moments. And the four guys of Caveat — they really have their group mind pulled together.
J and I then went out with the improv people after the show, having a few drinks with them, doing a lot of shop talk and we closed down the bar with some of them. An Internet article I was reading stated how important it is to not eat, sleep, drink, obsess about improv–you have to have a life outside. And that makes sense for a few reasons–how can I create a scene when someone shouts out $65 million pants, if I’m not aware of anything happening outside of the world that I create.
But, oh man, right now it’s kinda tough not being obsessed. I really want to fast forward three years to the time when I’m in a troupe. (Who knows, it may be less than that, but i think that’s a fair time frame for somone who is still struggling with making something out someone’s simple pose.)
Improv Teacher said some great things, however. He seems to think J and I have some talent. I’m hoping that’s not false hope he’s spreading. I have admittedly had some good moments, but I’m so far from seeing myself as a real performer. But I really don’t think he’d just make it up to be friendly.
Oh, and one of the classes will be dedicated to storytelling, and he already gave me a heads up on the secret — the seven-line story. On Saturday, I kept searching around me for a random object or word and attempted to make seven-line stories based on something from the object. My first story–a shampoo scientist who followed his dream to write copy for cereal boxes. I even had a line about how the shampoo scientist crossed the picket line of a strike and was pelted by Grape Nuts.
A bit random, yes, it is. But it’s improv, so I’m sure working with the right partner or two, it could’ve really gone in some good directions.
Saturday was the kball mid-season party. The turn out was really light, but that was expected since the venue was unknown for so long and then changed at the last minute. Everyone seemed to have a great time (a teammate of mine had a bit too much fun). And Sunday was a slow-moving, late wake up day for me.
House/apartment hunting is not progressing very well. I have a hunch I’ll be trying to find someone for my extra room. Not that I can’t live with that. I just really wanted to move to Virginia. Ah well, there’s still time.
