Thursday, August 20, 2009
Vote for the Imp!
KMBC television is searching for the best improv group in the city, and Roving Imp is among the options... and clearly one of your best choices! Think of the consistent quality that RI brings you every week, the variety of great shows and formats appealing to both adults and families, the friendly atmosphere, and the low prices, and then go to this web site to vote for the Imp. We've never won any prizes, awards, or accolades before, and we feel like it's about time. Don't you?
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
How to Follow That?
Wow...
after James posted that... amazingness, who could even think of following that?
I almost busted out some James-prov and murdered my scene partners last night... well they weren't my scene partners, I was on the side... but I think it would have been fun! The scene got edited a second too soon!
Roving Imp has been AMAZING lately, feels like every thing is taking off after the summer! Come on over to check out the awesomeness!
after James posted that... amazingness, who could even think of following that?
I almost busted out some James-prov and murdered my scene partners last night... well they weren't my scene partners, I was on the side... but I think it would have been fun! The scene got edited a second too soon!
Roving Imp has been AMAZING lately, feels like every thing is taking off after the summer! Come on over to check out the awesomeness!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Imp Imp Imp
James here.
Okay, I'm off for Germany. And since I'm not going to be around to play in any more Roving Imp shows, I've got to train the future Imps. So, here we go - the best kept secret in Kansas City.
The Rules of James-Prov
Rule 1. Improv is about story-telling. Don't be subtle about it. Tell the audience what's happening and what's going to happen next instead of letting them watch it unravel. It's important to force the plot so things don't lose control. Stop the scene if you need more time to explain to the audience what's going on.
Example:
JOHN: Karen... I think that we should get divorced.
NIFER: What? But we're so happy together!
JOHN: Well, I don't know. I mean, when we first got married, you were -
JAMES: Little did these two know, but aliens had landed just minutes away from their house and were fast arriving to annihilate the couple.
JOHN: Um... what I was saying was, when we first got married -
NIFER: Did you hear something outside?
JOHN: Yes! It was -
JAMES: Aliens. The next word he was going to say was aliens. Yes, the alien race had declared war on Earth years ago, and just now were enacting the final stages of the global termination.
JOHN: No, I wasn't going to say Aliens, I was -
JAMES: (as an Alien) Die Earthlings! Suck alien lead! (shoots John and Nifer)
Rule 2. About 9 out of 10 scenes should end with one or more character dying. Keep a fully stocked arsenal of pantomime weapons handy.
Example:
JOHN: Gee, Tommy, it's sure been a fun day at the fair!
JAMES: Yeah dad. Only one thing could make it better!
JOHN: Cotton candy? Hula hoops? A raffle?
JAMES: Nope. Your head on my trophy wall. (pulls out pantomime sword)
JOHN: Tommy! Where did you get that inflatable toy sword? Did you win that?*
JAMES: No. I had it hidden. And it's not inflatable, it's real. Die! (kills John)
*Note - John is trying to save his character's life. Don't let your scene-partner pull a stunt like this.
Rule 3. Keep total control over the scene. If something happens that you don't like, either ignore it or find a way to undo it.
Example:
NIFER: Billy. I just got a phone call. Your wife was killed in a freak accident.
JAMES: You should leave. My wife will be here soon.
NIFER: Um...Billy, I don't think you heard what I just said.
JAMES: No, you didn't say anything. My wife is alive. Why wouldn't she be?
NIFER: Because I just got a phone call saying -
JAMES: TIME MACHINE BALL! (Throws some sort of pantomime ball onto the ground)
NIFER: (sighing) So did we just go back in time -
JAMES: Yes. To the split second before my wife died, and now she's alive again. Also she's invincible so she can't die again. But you can! (pulls out pantomime spear and impales Nifer)
NIFER: Oh no I am dead... I guess...
Rule 4. Your scene partner will betray you. The only way to stop it is to betray them first.
Example:
JOHN: I'm going bowling. You can come if you want.
JAMES: I don't think you're going anywhere. (smiles evilly)
JOHN: Um...actually, I'm going bowling.
JAMES: You'll find that difficult with NO BOWLING ALLEY!
JOHN: ...why isn't there -
JAMES: Because! I phoned in an air strike and had the bowling alley destroyed. I knew you would want to go bowling so I decided to foil your plans!
JOHN: I guess you sure showed me. I'll have to go to a movie instead.
JAMES: Heh...good luck. I actually called in an airstrike on the movie theater as well.
JOHN: I didn't say which one I was going to. I'm not going to the one you blew up.
JAMES: I blew up all of them.
JOHN: You blew up every movie theater in the city?
JAMES: I blew up every movie theater ever. Plus, I poisoned that sandwich you ate for lunch. You're dying as we speak.
JOHN: I threw up the sandwich. So I'm not dying.
JAMES: Oh yeah? Well, then... now this is happening! (pulls out pantomime gun and shoots John a bunch of times)
JOHN: I was wearing a bullet proof vest.
JAMES: I shot you in the head.
JOHN: Okay...I guess I'm dead.
JAMES: I'm so very clever.
Rule 5. Only play a character for as long as he or she (yeah, right) is interesting. Switch characters mid-scene if you have to.
Example:
NIFER: Isn't this waterfall pretty, Thomas?
JOHN: Yes, Gloria, and it has the colors of your eyes.
JAMES: (in British accent) Huh-oh, Cheerio mates. I'm looking for a waterfall. Can you point me in the right - oh, why there it is!
JOHN: Yes. Don't you think this waterfall is pretty, random British guy who just walked in and took the focus?
JAMES: (in horribly offensive Japanese accent) Oh! You think me British! That exactly what I want you think! I actually Japanese!
JOHN: Well, regardless of what ethnicity you are, don't you think -
JAMES: Stop talking. I need to say something.
NIFER: What is it?
JAMES: I'm not really a man at all. I'm actually a BEAR! (mauls Nifer and kills her)
There you go. Now you can be an improv rockstar just like me. Enjoy your newly founded comedy skills.
Okay, I'm off for Germany. And since I'm not going to be around to play in any more Roving Imp shows, I've got to train the future Imps. So, here we go - the best kept secret in Kansas City.
The Rules of James-Prov
Rule 1. Improv is about story-telling. Don't be subtle about it. Tell the audience what's happening and what's going to happen next instead of letting them watch it unravel. It's important to force the plot so things don't lose control. Stop the scene if you need more time to explain to the audience what's going on.
Example:
JOHN: Karen... I think that we should get divorced.
NIFER: What? But we're so happy together!
JOHN: Well, I don't know. I mean, when we first got married, you were -
JAMES: Little did these two know, but aliens had landed just minutes away from their house and were fast arriving to annihilate the couple.
JOHN: Um... what I was saying was, when we first got married -
NIFER: Did you hear something outside?
JOHN: Yes! It was -
JAMES: Aliens. The next word he was going to say was aliens. Yes, the alien race had declared war on Earth years ago, and just now were enacting the final stages of the global termination.
JOHN: No, I wasn't going to say Aliens, I was -
JAMES: (as an Alien) Die Earthlings! Suck alien lead! (shoots John and Nifer)
Rule 2. About 9 out of 10 scenes should end with one or more character dying. Keep a fully stocked arsenal of pantomime weapons handy.
Example:
JOHN: Gee, Tommy, it's sure been a fun day at the fair!
JAMES: Yeah dad. Only one thing could make it better!
JOHN: Cotton candy? Hula hoops? A raffle?
JAMES: Nope. Your head on my trophy wall. (pulls out pantomime sword)
JOHN: Tommy! Where did you get that inflatable toy sword? Did you win that?*
JAMES: No. I had it hidden. And it's not inflatable, it's real. Die! (kills John)
*Note - John is trying to save his character's life. Don't let your scene-partner pull a stunt like this.
Rule 3. Keep total control over the scene. If something happens that you don't like, either ignore it or find a way to undo it.
Example:
NIFER: Billy. I just got a phone call. Your wife was killed in a freak accident.
JAMES: You should leave. My wife will be here soon.
NIFER: Um...Billy, I don't think you heard what I just said.
JAMES: No, you didn't say anything. My wife is alive. Why wouldn't she be?
NIFER: Because I just got a phone call saying -
JAMES: TIME MACHINE BALL! (Throws some sort of pantomime ball onto the ground)
NIFER: (sighing) So did we just go back in time -
JAMES: Yes. To the split second before my wife died, and now she's alive again. Also she's invincible so she can't die again. But you can! (pulls out pantomime spear and impales Nifer)
NIFER: Oh no I am dead... I guess...
Rule 4. Your scene partner will betray you. The only way to stop it is to betray them first.
Example:
JOHN: I'm going bowling. You can come if you want.
JAMES: I don't think you're going anywhere. (smiles evilly)
JOHN: Um...actually, I'm going bowling.
JAMES: You'll find that difficult with NO BOWLING ALLEY!
JOHN: ...why isn't there -
JAMES: Because! I phoned in an air strike and had the bowling alley destroyed. I knew you would want to go bowling so I decided to foil your plans!
JOHN: I guess you sure showed me. I'll have to go to a movie instead.
JAMES: Heh...good luck. I actually called in an airstrike on the movie theater as well.
JOHN: I didn't say which one I was going to. I'm not going to the one you blew up.
JAMES: I blew up all of them.
JOHN: You blew up every movie theater in the city?
JAMES: I blew up every movie theater ever. Plus, I poisoned that sandwich you ate for lunch. You're dying as we speak.
JOHN: I threw up the sandwich. So I'm not dying.
JAMES: Oh yeah? Well, then... now this is happening! (pulls out pantomime gun and shoots John a bunch of times)
JOHN: I was wearing a bullet proof vest.
JAMES: I shot you in the head.
JOHN: Okay...I guess I'm dead.
JAMES: I'm so very clever.
Rule 5. Only play a character for as long as he or she (yeah, right) is interesting. Switch characters mid-scene if you have to.
Example:
NIFER: Isn't this waterfall pretty, Thomas?
JOHN: Yes, Gloria, and it has the colors of your eyes.
JAMES: (in British accent) Huh-oh, Cheerio mates. I'm looking for a waterfall. Can you point me in the right - oh, why there it is!
JOHN: Yes. Don't you think this waterfall is pretty, random British guy who just walked in and took the focus?
JAMES: (in horribly offensive Japanese accent) Oh! You think me British! That exactly what I want you think! I actually Japanese!
JOHN: Well, regardless of what ethnicity you are, don't you think -
JAMES: Stop talking. I need to say something.
NIFER: What is it?
JAMES: I'm not really a man at all. I'm actually a BEAR! (mauls Nifer and kills her)
There you go. Now you can be an improv rockstar just like me. Enjoy your newly founded comedy skills.
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