Mary Ornberg
The Robson Ranch Drama Club hosted an Improv Workshop on Sept. 22. Kevin Small from Four Day Weekend was our class moderator. Kevin is a seasoned improv and sketch performer with over 25 years of experience. He performed with multiple groups in Dallas during the ‘90s and moved on to Los Angeles in early 2000, becoming a member of ACME Comedy’s Main Company. Kevin has written for and performed live on stage and screen with innumerable comedy stars, such as Bryan Cranston, Kristen Wiig, William Shatner, Mayim Bialik, and Wendi McLendon-Covey. Kevin also wrote and performed in the HBO comedy special Sketch Pad 2.
The workshop was scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m., and we had a full three hours of exercises. Some consisted of “Warm-Up.” Eye contact is critical in this exercise. Stand in a circle. The first person turns either left or right to the person next to them and claps. That person claps and turns to the person next to them.
Another one was called “Zip, Zap, Zop” where you stand in a circle. The first person claps and points at someone in the circle. Then that person turns to someone else and repeats. Keep going randomly. This helps everyone to be involved and attentive.
Others included “Character Class,” role playing. The leader states the character’s role and emotional state. Examples are shy cop, sadistic dentist, giddy mortician, overly complimentary parent, frightened airline pilot, egotistical gardener, overly truthful politician, unsure surgeon.
“Talk Show” game involves a total of four characters. Two are the hosts, and two are the guests. Each host can speak only one word at a time, and they go back and forth. The guests must say the same words at the same time. Certainly, they are looking at each other and doing their best to read the other person as to what word is next! The three that we did were “Mechanics Are Us” in the aerospace industry, “My Favorite Veterinarian” discussing exotic cats, and, finally, “World Famous Podiatrists” discussing toenail fungus.
But—Behold the Underlying Truth
Improvisation
There is no right answer. There is no wrong answer. Things can be limited by your point of view, your beliefs, and your likes/dislikes. All the actors had a great time and fine-tuned their skill level, which will be demonstrated on our next performance day, Oct. 22. Shows will be performed at 2 p.m. and then again at 6 p.m. Tickets can still be purchased at the clubhouse prior to show day on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 to 11 a.m.