No October Nest Show

We’re all very busy and excited getting ready for MPROV. As a result, we don’t have a monthly Nest show this month.

Show Tonight!

10:30 Comedy Nest — check the shows page for more details.

Only $6. We perform in a zero inflation zone.

The rifle over the fireplace

Brian and I used to walk home together after improv workshop and debate the finer points of improv theory. Here is one of the classics from back in the day. What is your take?

During the scene setup, it is established that there is a hunting rifle over the fireplace. Must this rifle be used during the scene?

Point: Yes. Failure to use the rifle is a failure to “yes, and” the offer of the rifle. An offer as big as a rifle cannot be ignored

Counter-point: No. The rifle can be useful to add colour to the scene even if it is not used per-se. For instance, the presence of the rifle might suggest the home’s owner is outdoorsy or an alpha male.

–b.j.

Level 1 Class

Dear Montreal,

I’m teaching a Level 1 class for Montreal Improv, which will be held on Saturdays from 4-6pm at Eastern Bloc, a short bike ride from Mile End and the Plateau and also accessible by Metro. Class starts Sept 26. More details here.

– b.j.

Real Names in an Improv Scene

Some improvisors routinely name characters in scenes after the actors playing them. I find this practice lazy.

This isn’t a beginner mistake; it’s a conscious strategy. Some folks think that by naming the character after the player, things will get less confusing if several characters get introduced. You’ll never forget a name if you never create one! So Jimmy always plays Jimmies and Sarah always plays Sarahs.

Lazy!

Names are inspirational! Would you play the scene the same way if your name was Elvira Godfried rather than Trace Jett? Ulf Parksson rather than Steve-o Barnaby?

A name is often the first gift to your partner; don’t give him socks on Christmas.

Zoo Review: Facebook

The Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) Theatre is in town for Zoofest playing different formats on different nights, culminating in the majesty that is ASSSSCat on Friday and Saturday.

On Wednesday, I caught Facebook, a show regularly performed at UCB Theatre in LA by transplanted New Yorkers, most of whom were in the now defunct Respecto Mantalban. Only Chad Carter from that crew is in Montreal, joined by Chris Gethard (who also has a solo Zoofest show, Chris Gethard’s Magic Box of Stories), Lennon Parham (who also has a solo show, Lennon Parham: She tried to be normal, and 3 improvisors (from LA?) I hadn’t seen before.

Facebook the improv show, is much like other UCB shows in that it begins with real-life biographical info solicited from an audience member and follows with lots of scenes riffing off those ideas, strung together long-form style. I’ve seen a UCB troupe rifle through someone’s wallet asking them about their cards and receipts, I’ve seen a UCB troupe ask an audience member for an interesting story; the Facebook show is very much in the same vein.

The Facebook hook involves getting an audience member up to log into their Facebook account. Monsieur Carter (he’s in Quebec now) then clicks through their wall, profile and photos rooting for unusual information. He’s very good at gently poking fun at people (Is this a photo of your cleavage smoking a cigarette?). The only real problem with this hook is that it’s lengthy and rather low energy. It took about 5 minutes to get good source material and he still had to prompt the audience member for information that wasn’t on Facebook. Admittedly, his first subject was impossibly stupid and unforthcoming.

Still, the Facebook hook works to draw in a crowd–attendance was good.

On to the show: the improv was good–that’s the important part. The style of improv is unabashedly funny. It isn’t silly; it’s clever. It isn’t story-driven; it’s game-driven. It’s also direct–initiations are to the point, exchanges are quick–let’s get down to the business of making people laugh. It’s not two people enjoying a park car delighting in their own company; it’s two people enjoying a parked car because they’re not at the “blowjobs and weed party”. Or something.

UCB are performing every night at 8:30 at Mainline Theatre until Saturday. Recommended!

Zoo Review: Whiteman’s Whiskey Comedy Revue

Sidemart Theatrical Grocery’s’s Whiteman’s Whiskey Comedy Revue (photos) is an exceptionally well-written and tremendously well-performed send-up of variety shows from tv’s golden age.

I wish this was a real show. By that I mean, I wish I could go to the theatre and watch this group put on a variety show every week. I would be there every week. This was more than a spoof; this felt in every way like the real deal. It’s only a shame that the venue is a bar, not a proper theatre or cabaret.

There was not a misstep from the cast. Graham Cuthbertson’s portrayal of high-status chain-smoking Dick Powell (think 30 Rock’s Alec Baldwin) was mesmerizing. Kyle Gatehouse’s telephone dance number is the highlight of the show. Someone give that man a phone commercial!

Complimenting the cast at every turn is a smooth four-piece jazz band. The mood was just right. (And hey, the bassist would appreciate some applause after his solo in the opening. Seeing him mouth the words “wtf?” was kinda funny, though.)

I want to have water-cooler talk with others who have seen the show, so that I can go “Remember the part when…”, “Remember the part when…”

I did not go to bed thirsty. The Whiteman’s Whiskey Comedy Revue is on nightly at 9:15 at Le Gymnase (Rachel/St-Denis) until July 26th. No show on the 20th. Highly Recommended!

–b.j. swank

Zoo Review: The Bitter End

The Bitter End is a serialized improvised sitcom playing at ZooFest. The cast is a who’s who of local improv talent, including our very own Marc Rowland. I shall make the rather obvious disclaimer that I know everyone in the cast and sometimes get invited to their brother’s apartment after shows. But being professional, I decline.

The sitcom follows the lives of two brothers. On this night, there were two main plot lines, one following each brother. While the brothers are the same from night to night, the secondary cast play all the other characters. And much like a tv sitcom, you don’t need to have seen the previous installment to follow the show.

The cast’s pre-show mantra is “be normal”, a positive reformulation of Johnstone’s “be more boring.” The approach allows for stories that mirror those from the audience’s life–relationship troubles, boss conflicts and so forth. It’s just like your life, only more funny. And sometimes, the normalcy will lapse and the boss will transform into RoboCop, but against the staid backdrop, this transmogrification will be super cool, not just wacky improv as usual.

The show clocks in at 40 fun minutes. It whizzes by while you are laughing. Make an evening of it and stick around at the same venue to catch the Whiteman’s Whiskey Comedy Revue. Alternatively, if you are less professional, go to the brother’s apartment. You can review that.

The Bitter Ends runs every night at 8:20 until July 26th. No show on July 20th. Recommended!

–b.j. swank

Zoo Review: Playin’ With Micucci

Kate Micucci is a singer/songwriter and actress living in L.A. She brings a show to Montreal that is a delight. People don’t use the word “delight” enough, but I’m not most people. In fact, I will say this show was downright delightful. Micucci’s shtick isn’t really shtick at all. She plays a self-aware version of herself in a show that lets her sing songs and tell stories, two things she does delightfully.

She doesn’t write funny songs per se; she writes quirky songs. They contain story, punch lines and startlingly, genuine feelings. They have more sophisticated rhythms and chord progressions that you’d expect from something as petite as a ukelele. Refreshingly, unlike most comedic musicians, she is too clever for the dirty stuff. You can bring your parents out from Kirkland to see the show.

I’ve been giggling about her last name ever since I planned out which shows I would be seeing. I only realized today that she called her show “Playin’ With Micucci”. Innocent sounding but with a subtext–maybe that sums up her concert.

Kate Micucci plays Theatre Ste-Catherine as part of ZooFest, every night at 7PM until July 25th. No show on the 22nd. Recommended!

–b.j. swank

Zoo Review: Improvised Shakespeare Company

The Improvised Shakespeare Company hails from Chicago’s iO Theatre and is in town for a 9-show run at Theatre Ste-Catherine as part of ZooFest.

Colour me impressed, gentles. The players from the Improvised Shakespeare Company put on a show that was charming, witty, engrossing and uproariously funny.

“Corset of death”, the audience suggestion, became the story of a woman’s longing for freedom and escape from a decrepit groom. The first few scenes introduced us to a host of entertaining characters and the story slowly took hold from there. Shakespearean elements crept into the plot in ways that never seemed forced. The use of language was just right; they weren’t sticklers in nailing every single verb tense. They attacked it with wonderful metaphors and bright language, often drawing laughter through their choice of words and especially on the occasional falter or dubious rhyme. The effect was playful and fun.

They owned the stage and played on many different levels–on chairs, perched off the stage, up on the balcony, down the aisle; it was hard to believe they were performing at this theatre for the first time. Their confidence was understated yet evident to anyone who’s ever felt a bit weak-kneed on a stage.

This play had the elements of a great improvised show–energy, cohesion, and most of all, playfulness. I will venture to say that playfulness can only exist when there is confidence in your craft and a genuine pleasure derived from it. Bravo, sirs!

The Improvised Shakespeare Company runs nightly at 8:30 from July 16 to July 25, with no show on July 23. I highly recommend this show to all, most especially local improvisors..

-by b.j. swank

Link: Tj & Dave interview

At last year’s Montreal Improv Festival, StoryBox Theatre, a group comprised of several Second City teachers and Chicago big wigs, came to town to perform. (All really nice people!) We humble Montreal folk asked them which improv show in Chicago was most popular. They replied unanimously: TJ and Dave.

Yes, that TJ and Dave that came to Montreal two years ago for Just for Laughs. TJ and Dave that I, living on my little Montreal<->New York axis, had never even heard of at the time.

Well, TJ and Dave were in New York recently promoting a documentary about their show. In an interview with Gothamist, they alluded to performing at Mainline for JFL:

Have you guys ever considered taking the show on the road, touring with it?

Dave: We have been around to different festivals to varying success. If people don’t know what they’re coming to, they’re sadly disappointed. Especially at a comedy festival…especially at a comedy festival, especially at a comedy festival in another country just north of us in a theater off the beat and track when they’re there to see stand-up and, say, we come out in the sweltering heat.

TJ: “Theoretically”

Ha! I found that funny, but now I’m bummed that they didn’t enjoy performing for us. When I do a run of shows, I always have my favourites, and sure, least favourites, but I never let on to the audience that they just saw a show with which I was unhappy. Now I know they hated us, and maybe it’s all my fault…

I reviewed their JFL show at the time. It was an introspective review. I’m always searching for myself when I watch and review improv. What do I like? What do I want to see? What do I want to do next? It’s about me; not about you, TJ, you Dave.

TJ and Dave did two (among other) things really well: lingering on moments and moving the story forward. They liked lingering more. While they journeyed, I longed for destination. It’s very much a style thing.

They read my review. And now they hate Montreal.

Which brings me to my next point: I received my media pass for JFL’s ZooFest. Time to go out and break some more hearts and put Montreal on the map as the city that “slow comedy” left behind.

– b.j swank

Haiku

Montreal Improv is running a haiku contest for a free pair of tickets to the best show at ZooFest, ASSSSCAT 3000.

I’m so in my head
What to say? How about “Yes”?
A laugh! They like me!

Whatever I say
Comes true. You know what, Del Close?
I just found the game