Reviewed by
Keith Waits
Entire contents are copyright © 2012, Keith
Waits. All rights reserved.
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| Brian Hinds. |
In improvisational comedy, anything, in
theory, is possible: even such a contradiction as a clown with no sense of
humor. He appears in public at all times in full clown regalia, constantly
frustrated at the inevitable expectation that he will be inherently funny, when
he is, in fact, one of the most dour characters you will ever encounter. As an
image, it connects to the archetype of the sad and bitter clown; and as
embodied by Brian Hinds in service to The Louisville Improvisers on May 9, it
was a highly individual creation born entirely in the moment.
Of course that is not strictly true. Improv
actors train and “rehearse” their skills, albeit in a slightly different manner
than traditional scripted theatre. But still they work out. They have to think
fast and have their imaginations at the ready and their instincts sharpened and
in tune with their onstage partners. And despite the obviousness of the
previous observations, it is still a treat to witness the fluid dynamic in
action.
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| Chris Anger & Alec Volz. |
Chris Anger and Alec Volz founded the company
more than 13 years ago, making it the oldest working improv group in town. And
when you see them onstage, there is no question of the easy shorthand that
passes between them as naturally as breathing. There have been other members
along the way, but the May show included recent additions Brian Hinds, who
created the humorless clown, and Jenni Cochran. Mr. Hinds is a veteran of
Kentucky Shakespeare, Stage One and, most recently, Walden Theatre, where Mr.
Volz is Associate Artistic Director. Ms. Cochran comes to Louisville by way of
St. Louis and, although relatively new to town, has already landed roles at The
Alley Theatre, including the production of Gilligan’s
island, The Musical that opened May 24.
Both more than held their own working with the well-worn duo of Anger
and Volz.
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| Jenni Cochran. |
Aside from the aforementioned clown, the
“games” that evening included the quartet trading positions, tag-team style,
whenever one performer got a laugh from the appreciative audience. It seemed
something less of a challenge, since the laughs came frequently enough to
require the actors be fleet of foot to avoid tripping over one another, so
rapid were the exchanges. By the time they finished with a freewheeling
depiction of a day in the life of an audience member (selected, of course, at
random), they had worked up a good energy with the crowd and wisely left them
wanting more.
The Louisville Improvisers will be performing
at The Louisville Improv club at Fourth Street Live! the first Wednesday of
each month through the summer. The next show is June 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15 with a 2-drink minimum.
The Louisville Improv
441 South Fourth Street
Louisville, KY 40202
502-581-1332
Fabulous review...talk to you tomorrow morning!
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