Dozens of students congregated to The Shack to witness MU Improv’s first performance of the 2012-13 school year on Thursday, Aug. 23.
MU Improv does long-form improvisational comedy every other Thursday. Before the beginning of each segment, actors ask the audience for a single word to provide a subject on which to base the scene around.
“There is an element of magic — I think, really, that goes with improvisation,” senior member Dillon Cassidy said. “There are moments you just can’t get from traditional theater because everything happening on stage in an improvised show is so incredibly genuine and real. The moments of discovery are really what set it apart.”
The dimly lit space of The Shack quickly filled with the laughter of the crowd as “Hotel California” played faintly in the background. Members of the troupe were required to think creatively on their feet with no preparation to entertain the audience.
When the audience gave the subject of “fire alarm,” the actors jumped into a scene in which they portrayed teachers at a school pulling a fire alarm. The scene then suddenly changed to an office of robots wanting to diversify and then again transformed to the production of a pornographic film.
“The journey that is happening is not just the actors, but the audience as well,” Cassidy said. “No one at the start of the show — performer, coach, audience or anyone else — knows just what’s going to happen until it does. It’s a more shared and engaging experience.”
Offhand witty remarks and lines the performers bounced off one other reflected the chemistry between them. Some students said the group was consistently comedic in its approach.
“I don’t think they ever did something not funny,” freshman Cameron Baker said.
With the actors’ talent and hard work, MU Improv captivated audience members, shown by their nearly nonstop laughter.
“It was incredible,” freshman Mark Maciasz. “I can’t believe they made it up on the spot.”
Many members of MU Improv participate in additional organizations on campus, including Comedy Wars. They encouraged audience members to support local comedy by attending other events as well.
“I feel like a lot of people in college spend their time trying to find something they can do for the rest of their life,” Cassidy said. “I’m fortunate enough to have found something I can’t do the rest of my life without.”
