Mind-controlling Furbies, an experimental device that allows bears to speak and a mutually adulterous couple discussing South African adoption were just some of the comical stories improvised on a modest triangular stage at the Cajun Attic.
In a small, dimly lit room with comfy leather chairs, tea light candles, and a large bar, a crowd of 15 people watched the hour-long, hilarious improv show put on by Crush Improv.
Dubbed *“Tuesday Make-em-ups,” the show involves a rotating cast with four different performers taking the stage every week.
Over the past three years the Ottawa improv scene has been experiencing a resurgence in professional improv. Crush Improv is one of the troupes at the forefront of this revitalization, taking the local improv scene by storm with its innovative approach.
According to Al Connors, one of the five founders of Crush Improv, the idea behind “Tuesday Make-em-ups” is to create a venue where people can come in and out of it as they please, as well as to draw some improvisers out of the woodwork.
“As a performer you are not locked into a contract. It also opens it up to if there are performers visiting from out of town,” Connors says. “The advantage of leaving it wide open is it’s pretty liberating.”
So far, this approach seems to be working. At their second show the audience has already doubled, and the troupe has had no trouble finding improvisers to rotate with.
“It does give young improvisers like myself, and other improvisers that are used to working with a certain group of people every week, a chance to adopt to other people’s performance styles. For a student like me, it just gives me a chance to perform period,” says Averie Macdonald, a second-year Carleton journalism student, and a two-time improviser at “Tuesday Make-em-ups.”
Crush, whose members label themselves as purveyors of fine improvised comedy, lean towards storytelling, weaving narratives and weirdness in their improv performances, Connors says.
“Our stuff gets weird and we just kind of sit in the weird for a little bit, see where it goes. Improvisation is based on saying ‘yes.’ It is based on accepting what comes your way,” Connors says. “Improving is working with what you have.”
Within the weirdness and comedy, however, there are also deeper messages. In the story of the cool dad and the vampire son, for example, the improvisers dealt with issues of acceptance and real friendship.
“The art of improv is being able to do something spontaneous but have it make sense,” Macdonald says.
Crush Improv just had its second year anniversary this past November, and are hoping to continue experiencing success. Although improv has its roots in Ottawa, beginning here in the 1970s, the scene experienced a drawn out lull, which just ended three years ago. ***Connors says.
One of the goals of Crush Improv is to make professional improv more available again, and to put it on the list along with people’s other options for going out, such as the movies, dinner and the bar.
“It is not stand-up comedy, it is not bar music, it is something really different that there isn’t a lot of in this town,” Connors says. “You can’t walk down the street and just bump into an improv show.”
That is exactly what Connors and the rest of Crush Improv are trying to change.
“It’s still small, it’s really small. But it’s the type of thing that can snowball. It takes a couple of years,” says Connors.
His optimism is characteristic of improvisers in general and this optimism is the reason why a resurgence is currently happening.
“As far as I can tell people are taking the initiative again. People are taking those risks, producing shows and putting money on the line and so far it seems to be paying off,” Connors says.
For anybody looking to try their hand at improv, they need not be intimidated.
“If you have a voice and you have a body you are good to go,” Connors says.
He advises people interested in improv to go out and see shows and then talk to the improvisers afterwards as the best way to go about getting involved.
For those who are not spontaneous enough to perform with a rotating cast, there is also the Carleton Improv Association, or as they fondly refer to themselves, the C.I.A. With about eight regular members, the C.I.A. is very laid back and easy going.
“It is really relaxed joking around,” says John Piekoszewski, the president of the C.I.A. He describes Carleton improv as a fun weekend activity to de-stress that requires no prior improv experience.
“It is hilarious. It’s so much fun. It’s a really great way to relax on the weekend,” says Rebecca Reeds, a first-year commerce major and a C.I.A. member.
“They are really welcoming. . . . The atmosphere is very laid back,” she says.
The troupe consists of members from all years and with practices once or twice a week, and one show every month, it is not an overwhelming time commitment.
“Usually when we play at a show, we will just have a bunch of different games. We do planned sketches as well to break up the comedy,” says Piekoszewski. “We try to get a lot of audience participation,” he says.
For both the Carleton Improv Association and Crush Improv the key to success lies in establishing an audience.
“There are so many things that you can do but before you can do any of those things you have to find the people that want to go and see those things,” Connors says.
So next time you are looking for something funny, exciting and spontaneous to do, go check out an improv show.