The Johnsonian

Issue date: 11/28/07 Section: Arts

Curtis Degraw play the game Taboo Circus.

Improv This students perform a game called Scream.

Screams of agony could be heard as students fell to the ground in Johnson 102 last Thursday evening.

No, no one died.

In fact, occurrences like these are actually quite common for the Winthrop's improv sketch comedy group Improv This.

The group started off the night with a game called Scream, which requires players to stand in a circle. Everyone must look down and when a host calls 'go' everyone must look up and if they make eye contact with anyone they must scream and fall to the ground. This continues until one person or an odd number of people are left standing.

As the night carries on, the games get more outrageous. In one dating game, a student is transformed into a narcoleptic bat who runs erratically around the room screaming "I can't see" until he instantly falls asleep.

The atmosphere is full of easygoing and friendly students who are attempting to unwind from their day. There is hardly a moment that goes by in which laughter doesn't resonate through the air.

Former student Russell Felder first began the group two years ago, and it has been going strong ever since.

Sophomore theater and performance major Shannon Plowden said she really enjoyed the club meetings and it is one of the reasons she's president this year.

"It's a good group of people and a good thing to do. I want to make sure it continues."

Students of all majors are welcome to come and sit in during the meetings. However, if students are worried about making fools of their selves, don't worry.

"You can come every single week and never do anything but sit and laugh, and that's fine," Plowden said.

Jennifer Potts, junior biology major, first attended Improv This her freshman year and has been back ever since.

"It adds a lot to my week," Potts said. "It helps me unwind, especially after tests and essays. You'll have a great time and it's free."

Sophomore theater education major David Hutto believes Improv This can function as an alternative for those students who don't feel like suffering the aftereffects of clubbing.

"If you haven't had a laugh and have had a stressed-filled week, improv will make you laugh," Hutto said.

Brandon DiMatteo junior performance major believes that improv is a great learning experience.

"It helps you get over stage fright and build team building skills. Improv improves your vocabulary," DiMatteo said.

After each meeting, members end the night with their routine trip to Denny's.

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IMPROV GAMES AND HOW TO PLAY THEM:
Diamond
In this game the players are set up in a diamond and each pair gets a scene, one of which involves two inanimate objects. The two players in front start a scene until the host yells right or left, and the diamond turns accordingly. The two players in front start playing a scene based on their suggestion until the host calls again.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
In this game the players form a line. The audience provides questions or problems for which they need advice. The players provide good, bad, and really bad
advice.

Human Props
In this game one player is asked to start doing an activity that somehow defines (broadly) a location. The other players then become the other objects in the environment. The first player can start using the props built by other players in the environment. When done, the first player is asked to guess what the objects were.

Hesitation
In this game a scene is played in which, at any time, any player may 'hesitate' and ask the audience for help. The player asking for help says the suggested line and it must be justified for the scene to continue.


Where: Johnson Hall, Room 102

When: Every Thursday night at
10:30 p.m.

Who's invited: Anyone in the
mood for a good time.

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