The Meramec Improv Club is set to host a comedy show in the theater on April 29. The club will be doing several sketches and games involving the audiences participation and imagination.
Amber Davis
– Staff Writer –
On April 29, the Improv Club will perform a comical show in the Meramec Theatre.
“Improv is a form of comedy in which almost everything is something you have to come up with on your own. It’s all about partnership and working together or else it won’t be funny and people will be able to sense it throughout the audience,” said Mallory Mcclelland, STLCC-Meramec student and president of the Improv Club.
The show will introduce a variety of different games such as “Scenes from a Hat,” “World’s Worst” and “Mannequin.” “Mannequin” is a game where two members are the mannequins. These participants can only move when their “movers” touch or move an area on the mannequin’s body. The game is played around a certain theme suggested by the audience, where the mannequins must create a story by thinking on their feet.
“My favorite game to play is ‘Blank Phrase.’ It’s a game where people just write down four random lines on a piece of paper and the actors pick out those lines through a hat. Throughout the scene, they have to say those four lines. You can write some pretty stupid stuff on the notes and it’s pretty hilarious,” said Tim Godfrey, STLCC-Meramec student and a member of the Improv Club.
The Improv Show will also perform a few comedic skits to keep the energy flowing.
“We will have very shorts skits that people in improv have written for the show,” Mcclelland said.
The Improv Club’s main goal is to get the audience involved. Audience members will be picked at random to help with the games or to suggest themes for the members.
“We want lots of audience participation. In the beginning we are going to have them write down some phrases for ‘Blank Phrases’ and some occupations or specific people for another game called ‘Dating Game’,” Mcclelland said.
This is the third show the Improv Club will perform since the club began in 2006.
“We have sponsored other plays and performances at Meramec. We just sponsored the play ‘Repo’ and some of our members were in the play as well,” Mcclelland said.
Mcclelland found out that improv was just what she needed to break out of her shell.
“I’m really into the Improv Club; I’ve been a member since it’s been created in 2006. At first I wasn’t that great at it; I was shy. I didn’t like any form of being in front of somebody and performing, but I found that Improv was easier somehow because I’ve always been able to think on my feet but I never thought of implying that,” Mcclelland said. “It really helped me break out of my shell. I try to tell people to get them to come join Improv. It’s okay if you are shy. We aren’t going to throw you into something you are not ready for.”
Godfrey believes Improv can help anyone become more creative than they are.
“Improv is just setting up a scenario and try to react in a way you think your character should act. It’s just thinking on your toes, being creative as possible. Once you start doing it you find out how creative you really are. I know a lot of people that say, ‘Well I can’t do that.’ Well don’t knock it till you try it,” Godfrey said.
Audience members may not expect anything the Improv club gives them. This show is geared for anyone that enjoys a good laugh and entertainment.
“Improv is acting without a skit, coming up with everything on top of the mind. You are given a scene or situation, and you have to start talking about whatever pops up in your head. It has to be quick,” said Ryan Riesn STLCC-Meramec student and member of the Improv Club.
Mcclelland suggested everyone should go the Improv Show.
“Come to Improv because we are like a family… like a really weird family,” Mcclelland said.
