"Yes, And:" Improv Theatre and You, Wednesday, Period One

[furnaceface]

Thinking better of carting a classful of students over to the Boards to have their first class on a stage that was now scorched and covered in broken glass and such, Jono had claimed the Danger Shop instead.

And then he'd programmed it to look like the Boards' stage, pre-failed-wedding-three. It had been easier to do than the cleaning would have been, at any rate. He was sitting on the edge of the stage when the students filed in, and gestured for them to make themselves comfortable in the theatre seating as they arrived.

//Alright,// he said, once it looked like everybody was here who was going to be here. //Looks like I'm here teaching you lot after all. For the two names on my roster that I didn't actually recognize this semester, I'm Jonothon Starsmore, I go by Jono or Jon. Please, none of that 'professor' nonsense. I haven't taken nearly enough university for a title like that. Yes, I am talking into your brain, no, I'm not reading your mind, and the first one of you who asks if they can roast marshmallows over me without actually bringing enough for the class is going to get detention.//

Which seemed more or less like it had covered the important bits, anyway.

//And with that out of the way, welcome to improv class. If you aren't familiar with improv theatre - spelled with an 're' at the end because your teacher is British, so help me - it's sort of like make-believe children's games, but with the G-rating filed off and often presented as legitimate theatre. Yes, people will actually pay money to come watch people on stage doing some of the nonsense we're going to cover this semester. No, it isn't entirely an anything goes pastime. There are rules to follow if you want to have a successful run of it.//

Say it isn't so, Jono!

//Don't worry. There aren't many, and they aren't terribly complicated. The first rule of improvisation is to agree with what's being said by the people you're playing with. Unless the point of the game is to do otherwise, you'll be able to progress along with whatever story you're telling if you don't throw up a brick wall of 'no' at every idea that comes your way. The second is to not just say yes, but to say yes, and. Take what people are saying, and build on it. Give them something to work with in turn. Next, make statements, use conviction with the ideas that you're presenting. And finally, there are no mistakes in improv, there are only opportunities. If somebody makes a slip of the tongue, use it. If you trip over your own feet, don't be afraid to turn around and start cussing out your invisible friend. The aim is to learn how to improvise, after all. Roll with it.//

Jono was great at rolling with it. You had to be when you had half a face and a tendency to re-grow it and then blow up again once every few years whether you needed to or not.

//It's introductions week, so we're going to start with a brief round of that. Nothing too difficult. Just your name, any experience with improvisation if you have it, and, of course, what you're planning on doing with this object I have in my hand.// He held up a handful of empty air. //I brought it here just for you, I should hope you can make some use of it. Make me feel better about giving it to you by being really thorough about how useful it's going to be to you. Here, catch.//

And with that, he mimed a careful underhand toss of the object to the student nearest to him.

//When you're done with the item, pass it to the next student. There's only one, after all, no sense in hogging it all to yourself. Maybe they can think of something else to do with it when you're through. And as a side note, if any of you are interested in being my TA for the semester, I'd be most appreciative. There's only one of me, and there are so many props like this one that I'll need to carry back and forth for classes, I'd appreciate the assist.//

[OOC: Open!]

Comments

Sign In!

[furnaceface]

With an object!

Re: Sign In!

[kenselvren.livejournal.com]

Jalian d'Arsennette

Re: Sign In!

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante

Re: Sign In!

[got-hijacked.livejournal.com]

Rhys

Re: Sign In!

[that_oldsaying]

Alluka Zoldyck

Lecture!

[furnaceface]

The four rules of improv:
1- Agree!
2- Say 'yes,' and raise it a 'yes, and!'
3- Make statements!
4- There are no mistakes, only opportunities!

Make a note of those. Or just stare at your telepathic teacher who is on fire. Or whatever.

Re: Lecture!

[rebelseekspizza]

Yeah, Dante was here mostly just because he'd gotten used to showing up for Starsmore classes for shits and giggles.

Also in case Jono needed anything from up high, but whatever.

The lecture was at least entertaining enough that he actually paid attention, so that worked out okay.

RE: Lecture!

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

Shiemi would be glancing from her notes to the teacher every few minutes, fretting and wondering if he was going to be okay.

Re: Lecture!

[candycrushlove]

Maria was taking notes. Performing was something she enjoyed doing and she always tried to sign up for Jono's classes.

Introductions!

[furnaceface]

Name! Past experience with improv! And what you're going to do with that item in your hand. You know, the invisible one that he threw at you, that is probably just air. Hopefully you caught it. Jono would hate to have to go get a new item if it breaks. Or maybe it won't break. Maybe he just threw a bowling ball at you. Or perhaps it's a feather. Bonus points for really trying to sell what it is with your performance.

When you're done with your item, pass it along. You don't have to have the same item as the person who came before you, but you can feel free to react to whatever they were going to do with it if you like. Because really, why would you try to go bowling with a feather? A better use of it would obviously be...

Re: Introductions!

[kenselvren.livejournal.com]

"Jalian d'Arsennette," she said. "I have no experience. And..." It took her a moment of confusion to realize what the "item" was about. "I'm...not sure what to do with...this. It's very pretty, though."

She was bad at this.

Re: Introductions!

[furnaceface]

//Isn't it? I thought you might like it,// Jono replied, with a faint twinkle of amusement in his eye. Everybody had to start somewhere, he was perfectly fine with giving a little encouragement. //What's your favourite thing about it, then? Why is it so pretty?//

Re: Introductions!

[kenselvren.livejournal.com]

...Lovely. Now what?

Jalian thought of something pretty. Something that might be there.

"The color and the shape are good. I like the math in the curves."

Re: Introductions!

[rebelseekspizza]

"Dante," said Dante, with his usual faint sense of introductions-week amusement. "And I'm fantastic at improvising in a fight."

Y'know, screw it, he'd indulge Starsmore just this once.

... by catching that fake soda can, giving it a spin in his hand, and tossing it over his shoulder at the next one in one smooth motion, then raising his eyebrows, making his eyes big.

Re: Introductions!

[furnaceface]

//You improvise where it counts, I can respect that,// Jono said, speaking as the man who defeated Omega Red once using a broken brick. //And a good fight does have a funny way of working up a thirst. Enjoy that drink, mate.//

Jono was taking careful pains to not let it show that he was actually rather delighted that Dante had decided to play along, today.

Re: Introductions!

[rebelseekspizza]

"I dunno, it's kinda light," said Dante, who had to make some kind of crack at it. "Maybe something with less bubbles next time."

Re: Introductions!

[that_oldsaying]

"Alluka!" she said happily. "And, and I don't think I don't have experience? This is like playing make believe, right?"

Alluka was great at make-believe!

She studied the item in her hand and then beamed. "It'd make a good doorstop! But then I guess other people can't use it, so maybe it's only a doorstop for a little while?"

She tossed it at the next person.

RE: Re: Introductions!

[furnaceface]

//Just like make-believe,// Jono agreed, looking pleased. //And a temporary doorstop is likely all we'll need, isn't it? We'll only be here for an hour, and then it'll be out of here for the next class, after all.//

Re: Introductions!

[that_oldsaying]

"Oh! That's true! And the next class might want a door to be fully shut," she said, delighted that it made sense.

Re: Introductions!

[got-hijacked.livejournal.com]

Between this and the class on fighting, Rhys was finding a really annoying theme going on. Or it could just be a coincidence. Who knew for sure?

"I'm Rhys," he said, waving his one hand like people needed help finding him. And then remembered he was supposed to be catching something, fumbled a little before recovering. "I worked at Hyperion, I can improve."

BADLY.

"And I caught... a stick?" he said, stretching out each word as he failed at this.

RE: Re: Introductions!

[furnaceface]

//Hyperion, hm?// Jono raised an eyebrow at that. //There's a familiar name. So. Tell me, Rhys... what do Hyperion employees do with sticks?//

They don't dig up large chunks of the island or leave gun vending machines in the dorms lobby with them, do they?

DO THEY?

RE: Introductions!

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

Shiemi fumbled and 'caught' the 'object' when it was her turn. "Shiemi Moriyama, and I've never had any experience with improvisation or theater."

"But I want to try!" She looked at her hand; what do people throw? "Uhm. It's a ball?"

RE: Introductions!

[furnaceface]

Aww, Shiemi. So nervous. Jono have her his best encouraging look, even around the fire.

//Trying is good. Having fun with it is what's most important. Think of this as an hour of playtime each week, no pressure.//

Then he nodded to her hand.

//Are you going to play a game with the ball?//

Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

He's in the market for a TA if anybody is interested!

OOC!

[furnaceface]

But no really, I'm totally in the market for a TA if anybody is interested. Ping me here or have your student mention it somewhere in class if you want the position!