Improv Tickles Your Funny Bone
By Kelley Guiney
Unexpected Productions is an improvisational theater group whose home since 1991 has been Seattle's Market Theatre, located, as one might expect, near Pike Place Market. This remarkably talented and intelligent group provides a highly entertaining battle of quick wits in an evening of "competitive" improv, known as TheatreSports, on Friday and Saturday evenings at 10:30 p.m.
Each show the six-member cast is divided into teams of three,
and three judges sit sternly on the sidelines to evaluate each
performance on its technical merit, narrative, and entertainment
value. The judges (entertainment value themselves) also have the
power to call the scene to a halt if it's dying on its feet or
simply going on past its natural ending point. The scenes are
based entirely on volunteered suggestions from the audience, which
makes me wonder if there is any art form that requires more adept
skill and courage than the art of improvisation.
The resulting show is not only entertaining; it's very inspiring
and thought provoking as well. As audience members and the cast
piece together scene after scene, you can't help but think about
the creative process why some scenes work and others don't,
how deeper character development occurs as a result of adding
one specific emotion or other variable to the mix, or what suddenly
inspires a cast member with the crowning touch for the end of
a scene.
A performance in early December featured the "Champions,"
Gabe Denning, Elicia MacGregor and Mark Pinckney against the "Challengers,"
Paul Levy, Jay Hitt and Greg Stackhouse who provided some truly
brilliant moments for all. Highlights were the barroom brawl that
began with the audience suggestion of "two macho pals"
and ended with a Shakespearean drama that was truly worthy of
the name. Obviously the Champions knew their craft. Pinckney's
asides to the audience and death scene were intelligent and hilarious,
and matched by MacGregor and Denning's chemistry as friends navigating
a confusing moment of mutual attraction-all done without once
breaking the Shakespearean spell.
One of the Challengers' scenes began without much promise (the
audience suggestion was "a medicine ball") and was magically
transformed by the addition of the emotion fear. It was hilarious
to watch their different interpretations of the emotion, with
Levy bringing the scene to a sudden halt with a terrified sprint
across the stage, complete with sound effects.
It's undeniable that no matter how talented the performers, some
aspect of a scene's success depends on the audience suggestion.
The performers acknowledge this by offering prizes at the end
of the evening for the best audience suggestions, which on the
evening in question went to the best scene of the evening, a first
date where the couple went hunting for grunion (you had to be
there).
The first date scene was done as a musical-with the theater's
pianist adding to the energy and dynamism by following along and
matching the "feel" of the scenes throughout the show.
Once again the Champions displayed their talent, as Pickney and
MacGregor played the couple and Denning played the grunion. It
was an absolutely inspired performance, with the cast making up
lyrics on the spot, some even complete with lines that rhymed.
I hate to play favorites, but I can't help myself Gabe Denning's
talent is stunning and this might be the first time in the history
of theater that a grunion stole the show. I guess you have to
pull out all the stops when you're playing a small sea creature
that no one has ever heard of.
What makes this theater company stand out is the highly creative
scene structure and dynamic use of audience participation. Overall,
this is a very entertaining and economical way to spend the evening,
with tickets at $10; $5 on Sundays. Unexpected Productions also
offers a seasonal Long Form Improv show on Fridays and Saturdays
at 8 p.m. Both shows feature a revolving cast so no matter how
many times you go there's one thing for certain-you'll never see
the same show twice! The theater also offers improv classes. For
more information or reservations, visit the Web site at http://www.unexpectedproductions.org
or call 206-587-2414.