The Greek philosopher Aristotle famously said, “The secret to humor is surprise,” and no art form has embraced this idea more fully than improvisational sketch comedy.
Known colloquially as improv, this genre saw a rise in popularity because of the much-beloved TV show “Whose Line is it Anyway?,” which featured a series of short scenes made up on the spot by a company of performers.
The Webernauts, a local improv troupe based at the La Crosse Community Theatre, will put on its unscripted show “See Me After Class” next weekend. The group is new to the La Crosse theater circuit, and this will be its first public performance.
Under the direction of veteran improviser Chuck Charbeneau, the troupe will perform what is known as long-form improv — an entire show built around suggestions instead of a series of fast, unrelated scenes.
Area theater educators — including Terry Visger, Bob Pitel and Lee Rasch — will open each show with a series of monologues they will develop on the spot from audience suggestions. The company then will develop a scene around the themes that arise.
“The key principle of improv is ‘Yes, and …?’” Charbeneau said. “This means the performers accept the scene or idea that is offered and then look for ways to make it bigger and more interesting.”
Charbeneau, a Detroit native, has been involved in improv as both a student and teacher for more than 20 years. While in college, he frequently traveled to Chicago to perform at venues such as the Improv Olympic, which helped launch the careers of comedians including Tina Fey.
While Charbeneau now works professionally in the software industry, he says improv teaches skills that can be applied to any vocation.
“We work on teamwork and support, listening, agreement and honesty in relationships,” he said. “Even if someone were to never step on the stage as a performer, the skills and ideas from improv will immediately and permanently map to their daily lives.”
The Webernauts began rehearsing in September, and although rehearsals have recently been closed to the public to prepare for the upcoming show, they will reopen next month to anyone 18 and older.
Charbeneau says rehearsals primarily focus on “scenic understanding,” or the creation of context. “A key element is making the relationships identifiable,” he said. “The more honest they play the relationships, the funnier and more interesting the scene becomes.”
While improv often is humorous, Charbeneau stresses that the goal is not simply to get a laugh. Good improv, he says, arises from honesty.
“If a performer is honest and in the moment, the humor will be discovered by the ensemble,” he said. “I like to tell performers that anyone can get a laugh, but the true discoveries and insights get applause.”
Article source: http://lacrossetribune.com/entertainment/local-improv-troupe-finds-humor-in-honesty/article_2147203e-7fb1-11e3-bfdf-0019bb2963f4.html