Improv at Boquete

I took a couple of acting lessons in September...it damn near killed me!

All that memorizing. And it was awkward. Acting is a very contained way of being, where as I am used to projecting out into the audience in music and public speaking. Acting just doesn't seem to fit for me.

Yella invited me to a weekly improv class on Thursday. She said it was great fun, didn't take any memorizing and anybody could do it.

All right! This sounds like it's for me.

I went with some apprehension. After all, you do get up in front of people and perform.

I used to watch a little known program on TV several years ago called, "Who's Line Is It Anyway?" This started as a BBC program and was snatched up by US TV.

Four comics were given various improv situations and they ad libbed the skit. They, of course, were talented. And, it was a funny show.

I mention this because the set ups in the show are similar to what is used in improv classes. So, I was familiar with some of the situations.

The class is lead by a professional actress and comedian in her 70's. She is still full of it and a hand full. She is also the best, most skilled actress for dramatic plays.

Improv may be right up my alley. All it takes is the willingness to make a fool of yourself and wise ass remarks.

Perfect!

I really enjoyed the class and it wasn't too confronting.

Yella and I did a bit together where every statement has to be a question. Try that sometime...where your conversation is all in questions. Once you have the mind set, it's a lot of fun and frequenetly hillarious.

We hit a good, funny riff of several lines that cracked the crew up. That was fun!

I have seen a couple of the set ups before in personal growth workshops in the 80's. They were used to get people up in front of the room, drive fear up (from public speaking which is feared more than death for most people) and pierce through the personality shell.

Back then, it was terrifying. Not now. It was fun.

Maybe age is transformational.

We will perform for 30 minutes at a cocktail hour later this month. Now that may drive the fear up!