By Frank Bublitz
Besides the Drew Carey show, Drew is famous for hosting the ABC Television show Whose Line is it Anyway? Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie and many others have been excellent in demonstrating the power improv has to make us happy.
Most people think that Theatrical Improvisation, or Improv, is simply a vehicle for making up funny sayings and doing silly things. But that’s only part of the story of Improv.
Improv began in the 1940’s at Hull House in Chicago Illinois. as a way to teach effective communication between people. Hull was part of the Settlement House movement, America’s first organized social work program according to some. ]
Who did improv help?
Children who were suffering from anxiety and trauma were comforted and helped to talk about their feelings by playing theater games. Immigrants who had little English and wanted to assimilate were taught by games that did not require much talking. As a person gained more English that person could begin to play the games that use fewer words than others, and so on.
How does Improv help?
Improv has rules. That’s a surprise to some people, because it seems so random. These rules help ensure that “games” are played in a way that promote cooperation with and consideration for others. Also, they ensure that people take emotional risks, because there is safety built into the process. Sometimes the games that “fail” teach more lessons and cause more laughs than those that are run flawlessly.
My favorite of these rules are Say Yes, and, Don’t Deny what the other person says or does, and make your partner look good!
Yes, and means you agree with whatever the person says to you and build upon that message. What is said to you or nonverbal move made is called an “Offer”. So if I tell you the moon is made of green cheese you might say, “Yes, and I have bread and a knife so we can have some.”
Don’t deny is similar. If I say I’m flying and you tell me I am not that ends the scene. It is a little different from Yes, and because it’s often an acknowledgement and not a way to build up the scene right away.
Make your partner look good should be obvious. Though sarcasm and friendly insults do make their way into games, you should try to be chivalrous and cooperative. Don’t try to be funny; especially not at someone’s expense.
Improv is used in a variety of business, health care, and other settings. My next column will share some of those with you in detail!
