As I go along

This week is a great time to be a comedy junkie in NYC, because we're getting ready for the 9th Annual Del Close Improv Marathon, named after the man widely appreciated as the originator of long-form improv. I love this stuff, because anyone who can head onto a stage and weave an hourlong musical out of nothing more than a suggestion (in a recent show, it was "the smallest vampire in Sheboygan") is someone I want to know. Improv groups from all over North America are coming here to do this for 55 straight hours at three different venues, and I'm going to sneak away for as much of it as possible after I herd the boys into their bedroom for the night.

I performed a lot of improv back in the day, but it was short-form stuff, the sort of thing you see on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" when they tell you what the game is and you have to come up with zingers. And that's fine, although long-form devotees regard it with the same esteem as they might a steaming horse turd, or Alberto Gonzalez. In long-form you know absolutely nothing, and you have to recognize when the game asserts itself and go with it. It's hard as hell for us adults and our ossified minds, but for little boys it's just another day. So whenever I perform it (and am convinced I am suckiest sucker that ever sucked) I am inspired by my children, who can take a crib mattress and an old keyboard and build a ship for two space mice on an intergalactic mission to recover a valuable hunk of space cheese.

Also, somewhat relatedly: The other night I was on my way to the theater, which is in Chelsea, when I crossed paths with a young street tuff peacocking his way down the boulevard. He looked at my light-green polo shirt, khaki shorts, and sandals, looked me straight in the eye, and said, "Get this old FAGGOT."

Naturally, I was deeply offended. Who the fuck's he calling "old"?

Comments

[I, Rodius]

Heh. Small world. I too have been called an old faggot by a young street tuff. I can understand his confusion, though, as I was doing my distinctly housewife-ish early morning workout at the time: speed-walking with hand weights. Not manly at all. And fret not about the "old;" to a peacocking street tuff, anyone older than he, that's the definition of old.

[Lora]

I had to laugh at this...I'm originally from Sheboygan. The references to my hometown and state are numerous which my husband finds amusing since he always claims that before he met me, no one he knew or met was from WI, much less Sheboygan.

[Darren]

I haven't seen any theater improv in years, but TheatreSports at Freestyle Rep used to be one of my favorites...but that was short set-up improv. UCB and this marathon started soon after I left NYC.

And isn't old in Chelsea about 27?

[Papa Bradstein]

Beyond the "old" mistake that he made, what are you calling "light-green"?

Don't you mean "key lime" or "dusty mint" or "river grass" polo shirt?

[LOD]

It was a kind of a sea-foam green that perfectly matched my D&G handbag and tasteful jade earrings.

[Liz]

Decent long-form improvisers do not look down on short-formers. It's a different discipline. The people who go on and on about how sucky short-form is generally are very bad at it. I, for example, can do a pretty decent Harold, but I can't rhyme under pressure to save my soul.

Also, there is little in life more painful than watching really terrible long form.

Have a great time!

Anyway, here's just a couple of unsolicited recommendations for you from those I'm familiar with:
@ UCB
Bassprov - Amazing. Not to be missed, if possible.

MySpace - Funny stuff. They take an audience member's MySpace page and do a set off of it.

@Hudson Guild
Sutton and Hallal - I've never seen these two together, but Mark Sutton is half of Bassprov and I'd watch him clean his toenails.

Uniprov - Improv on unicycles. What's not to love?

[Hygiene Dad]

Good for you to pull off the jade earrings. I myself, never could get them to coordinate with an outfit.

[E]

I say, It takes one to know one poopypants! :-P

[You can call me, 'Sir']

It's times like those (long-form improv, street hoodlums with questionable grammar) when the ancient art of kung fu comes in handy.

[dutch from sweet juniper]

what's this poof doing in chelsea if he has a problem with faggots?

[BOSSY]

The only improvising Bossy does these days is substituting cough medicine for brandy.

[Mom101]

You cannot have possibly been the suckiest sucker because I believe I hold that title since 2002 and am yet undefeated. Nate will attest to that.

Oh, I'm sorry I missed it. It's always a good time.