They stand in front of a crowd of people: “ Give us a location! What’s happening? Who’s in the room? “. And they’re off! Creating dialogue and action no one had written down in advance and with no one really knowing where it’s going. And somehow when it’s over it is hilarious, it (more or less) makes sense, and it was all made up on the spot. It’s called Improv Comedy and I’ve really loved it since I was a kid.
I grew up watching Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, and Carol Burnett cracking each other up doing ridiculous sketches on the Carol Burnett Show. Of course there were scripts. But each of these really funny, really talented people had the ability to take each other by surprise. It was at those moments that what was already funny became even funnier because you knew something unexpected, unplanned, and unscripted had just happened. Tim Conway was the best at it. Improvising whole speeches on the spot, weaving insanely convoluted stories that left the audience and his fellow actors in stitches. Or, even though it wasn’t in the script, physical humor like rolling down the stairs in slow motion perfectly executing the motion leaving his co-stars and the audience in a crumple of devastating laughter.
Improvisational comedy has been around for years. Records of Improv Theatre can be found as far back as Roman times. Structured improvisational theatre was popular in Italy in the 1700’s. In the US long form improv theatre took root in the early 20th century. Then in the 1950’s an improv group in Canada called Second City Troupe came into being. Robin Williams, Steve Carrell, Will Ferrell, Tiny Fey, Amy Poehler and so many more all got their start doing improv with Second City.
How do they do it? In part it most certainly has to do with the personalities of the individual improvisors and the chemistry they share. But what I’ve also learned is that it also has to do with their understanding, commitment to, and utilization of certain principles that make for successful improv comedy. They are:
- Yes and…. 6. Commit fully
- Make your partner look good 7. Take risks
- Listen carefully 8. Keep it simple
- Be in the moment 9. Be specific
- Don’t block 10. Have fun
Of course, we all do improvisation, don’t we? We get up in the morning to start the day and there’s no script to tell us what to say and do. There’s kind of throw away moment in Raiders of the Lost Ark when Indy’s friend Sallah asks him how he will get the Ark back. Harrison Ford just mumbles “I don’t know. I’m making this up as I go.”. That’s what we do every day! We’re all just making it up as we go along in every area of our lives. The difference is we’re not doing it on a stage in front of people who paid money just to be entertained. But we still have an audience. As Bill Shakespeare and my hero Neil Peart remind us: “all the world’s indeed a stage. We are merely players. Performers and portrayers. Each another’s audience outside the gilded cage.” (Limelight) We’re improvising for and with the people we work with, the people we go to school with. With strangers and family members. And how well we improvise depends on what principles are guiding the way we handle ourselves.
A couple stands before God in front of friends and family and they make promises about how they are going to love and be faithful to one another for the rest of their lives. They think they know what it really means to live into those promises. But they’re making it up as they go along. As a pastor I’ve officiated many wedding vow renewals. I’ve noticed that almost every time, the couple gets teary eyed when they go back to those original promises they made so many years ago. I think it’s because they deeply understand what those words really mean. How well a couple improvises through the years depends on what kinds of principles guide their behavior.
When I learned about these improvisational principles, I thought about how they might guide a couple through their married life. Before getting into them, three caveats. First, I know, I know, for you theatre people out there, this isn’t the final exhaustive list of Improvisational Principles. I honestly don’t think there is one definitive list. This is just the one that I like. If you’d like to see it for yourself here is the link: The Core Principles of Improv: A Guide to Thinking on Your Feet – Main Stage Productions LLC
Second, this also isn’t an exhaustive list of principles for marriage. There may be some not on here you’ll immediately think of. There are some I am aware that aren’t on here. That’s fine. You can add yours to it. I just liked the idea of connecting improv on the stage with improv in life and, specifically, in marriage.
Three, the last thing I want is for couples to use these principles to wail on each other. “Hey, you’re violating principle #4!!”. Nope. Not what I want. Also, don’t beat yourself up over these principles. They represent the ideal. None of us are ideal! My wife and I don’t live 100% into these principles. In fact, I feel safe in saying we don’t completely agree on these principles or even how to interpret them. And we have what I think is a pretty great marriage. What I hope is that couples might read this and they might lead to helpful conversations about their life together. I have some discussion questions at the end of each one, but I call them Improvisational Conversation which means you don’t have to follow my script. Feel free to come up with your own. That will for sure be way more helpful than what I came up with. But, please, please, don’t beat on each other or yourselves with these things.
I also want to acknowledge a few people who helped me create this. Two longtime friends and partners in ministry: Renee Teel and Diana Neely. Renee was an amazing staff member at Christ Church in Sugar Land and is my theatre geek. She kept me straight about improv, actors, and acting. Diana and her husband Kyle were instrumental in helping to start Faith in Richmond and she has been bugging me about doing some writing. Diana pushed me on some elements of this thing. If you like this, thank her. If you don’t, blame her. I also want to acknowledge Jepilyn, my improv partner who has been patiently teaching me for almost 42 years.
First Principle: Yes and…