By: Josie Wawrzyniak
I attended a performance of the Comedy Pigs, Frederick’s prestigious improv troupe at the Maryland Ensemble Theater (MET) on Saturday evening, Oct. 15, 2011. The MET is located at 31 West Patrick St. in the heart of Frederick’s Theater District, directly across the street from the Weinberg Center.
Like Hood College’s Avalon Performing Arts Studio in the Tatem Arts Center, the MET is a black box theater. It seats about 100 patrons. The smallness of the theater creates an intimacy between the audience and the performers. The most distantly seated patron will be no more than 25 feet from the floor-level stage. The seating is tiered so that each ascending row allows those seated in it an unobstructed view of the stage. Seats are arranged around the stage in a “U” shape with most of the seating in front of the stage.
The audience took their seats, the doors were closed and the lights were dimmed. When the lights came on the Comedy Pigs were on center stage. Their energy, both physical and mental was readily apparent. They greeted the audience warmly and immediately engaged it.
“We need a suggestion from the audience,” said Anne Raugh, a long-time member of the troupe. With this statement, the act began.
For those unfamiliar with improvisational comedy, a performance consists of a series of “games” (think skits) in which the performers use words and ideas solicited from the audience. The games are usually short, lasting about three to five minutes, although some may be longer.
Anything goes. The performers will twist their bodies into every conceivable position; they will cry, shout, laugh and exaggerate their voices in every manner possible to create the zaniest of characters. They will place these characters in unbelievably imaginative scenarios. The only props used are a few chairs.
This evening’s audience chuckled, laughed and clapped when the act began. The mood, however, soon advanced to a state of hysteria continuing until the end of the show.
The Comedy Pigs played many games. One was based on a request from the audience for a country, “Croatia,” and an occupation, “bus driver.” The players arranged several chairs in a rectangle. A driver with a “Croatian” accent picked up and dropped off the most unlikely of characters: a prostitute, a hitch-hiker and some “normal” passengers who were anything but normal.
One crowd pleaser was a guessing game. Raugh explained that each player will enter a store to purchase an item suggested by the audience. The player portraying the store owner is not present so does not know the item. Players attempt to buy the item but cannot ask for it by name. The shop owner tries to provide it by following hints from the player. Members of the audience are asked to snap their fingers when the shop owner gets warm and clap if she identifies the object. One such object this evening was a jelly-filled blow-up sex doll needed for a friend’s bachelor party. Did the shop owner get this one? To the delight of the audience, absolutely!
These are just two examples of the many, many games the players performed. All were just as funny and a few were hilarious. If you have not seen a live improv performance, consider visiting the nearby MET for an evening of lively entertainment. Use your Hood College ID at the box office to get a substantial discount on the ticket price.
Why go to New York City and Detroit, two cities renowned for improvisational theater, when great improv is only 10 minutes away?
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