Hunchbacks on golf courses. Human asparagus. Fish town.@@I down-styled ‘town’ here. couldn’t  tell if it was a real place or just an idea, like the ones previous – and what the story is about@@ For Absolute Improv@@any reference to this is several years old; not finding anything new@@ — a student-run improvisational theater group that has been based out of the University for nearly 20 years — these are more than just random ideas. They are cues on how to act and build a story or joke for their audience completely in the moment, without a script or any idea where the story is going.
“One of the rules of improv is always say yes, never say no to anyone’s offer,” said Evan Marshall,@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Evan+Marshall@@ a theater arts major at the University and a member of Absolute Improv, of the flexibility necessary for theatrical improvisation and the randomness that often ensues.
More commonly referred to as “improv,” this type of theater involves the spontaneous creation of characters, plot and/or setting through acting techniques and oftentimes audience suggestions.
Through a series of short-form and long-form activities, this is what Absolute Improv — a group comprising seven members this year — focuses on in their performances and their practices.
These performances and practices generally include playing short-form games similar to those seen on the comedy-improv show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” Actors might be asked to make up the characteristics of a person based on their fictional name or say a random thing that they are doing to start a story off. They also engage in long-form improvisation, which involves making up an entire play that can last as long as an hour for the group.
Although this might sound intimidating for people without acting or improvisation experience, Absolute Improv members insist that it’s not and that any person from any major can do it.
“One of the things about improv is that it’s really approachable theater, and it’s the kind of theater that’s not a big deal — it doesn’t take itself too seriously,” said University junior Madeline Downes,@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Madeline+Downes@@ who has been a part of the group since her freshman year. “You can talk and laugh and make noise and really just have a rowdy, good time.” @@All my rowdy friends done rowdied on down.@@
On top of being a fun way to gain acting experience and take a break from regular school activities, members of the group also admit to gaining a number of skills from their performances.
“It helps me react in my other acting in a more organic way, and it definitely helps me listen to other people,” said Marshall, who has been involved in a number of University theater productions on top of his work with Absolute Improv.
Olivia Walton,@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Olivia+Walton@@ a University junio English major who has been involved in improv since her freshman year in high school, agreed about the benefits.
“Improv has already — in the six or seven years that I’ve done it — improved my speaking skills and my ability to let go of overthinking things, and I think it’s helped me be more positive onstage and I think sometimes off stage,” she said.
Though improv is often performed with comedic intentions, team members aren’t expected to keep a straight face throughout their scenes — they are able to laugh right along with the audience when something strikes them as funny.
“I’ll try to think about it as a serious thing, which is kind of hard sometimes because sometimes you’re playing a cat and you’re licking yourself and someone says something really obscene and you just kind of lose it,” Walton said, adding that it is not always necessary to remain serious during improv scenes because the audience can connect with them better.
“I think we have a really good time making each other laugh and hoping that other people laugh when we do,” said Downes.
Next up, Absolute Improv will perform once again at the Lord Leebrick Theatre Company@@http://www.lordleebrick.com/@@ Feb. 3 and 4 at 11 p.m. Tickets cost $5 and can be bought at the venue. The group also plans to hold auditions for new members — open to all majors — at the end of winter term and hopes to perform more consistently at the Lord Leebrick. In the spring, they will return for a performance in the Pocket Playhouse. Information about upcoming events for Absolute Improv can be found in Villard Hall, on the email list for the Pocket Playhouse or on the group’s Facebook page.