Improv Class at Arte Vallarta Theater
Ten days ago or so, I had the real privilege of auditing an improv class at the Arte Vallarta Theater. The class was led by two very funny Canadians, Karen Parker and Diana Frances, fresh off their sold-out run – Leave it to Cleavage – at the same theater.
Eleven students took part in the three-hour course. I gotta tell you – it’s a long time to spend laughing!
The biggest drawback to being funny is fear. And, if you think of it, fear is behind every human ‘failing,’ not just comedy. The beginnings of the class were simple, with exercises like passing each other and saying hello. Most of the class were strangers to one another. Then, they pretended to love one another and said hello quite differently. And so it went on, hating each other and winning the lottery together. It was interesting to feel the energy in the room change, just with the tone of their voices. And, even though they were pretending to be angry, the energy changed as if it were real.
The group was broken down into twos, threes, fours, then the whole group in a big circle, and each person had to trust, be present completely or lose the entire conversation thread, and they learned how to support one another regardless of what was said. (THAT’S when things get funny!) It was harder for some than others, but they all came away enriched with what they learned. I asked one woman how she felt about the class. This is what she said.
“Imagine a dozen strangers, an age spread of over 40 years, put in a room together, some with lots of acting experience and some like me – no training at all. I wasn’t even sure I had a sense of humor. I was afraid that I’d be embarrassed, or singled out as the worst of the group or ignored because I was too old, etc. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Starting out slowly, the class was inclusive; there were no ‘fails.’ At times, we laughed so hysterically that we could not stop!
My hope is that every time Karen Parker and Diana Frances are down in Vallarta, we can sign up for another class and another one after that.
At first, everything and everybody was awkward, but after we allowed ourselves to be caught up in the ‘moments,’ I became the fabulous, spontaneous person I was meant to be!”
The Paseo del Arte is in the Zona Romantica tonight, so have a stroll and some wine. I will be at Coco Cabaret first, listening to some 70s Electric Light Orchestra, but I will see you on the streets later and in the galleries.