Let’s Get Physical
On Tuesday I had the tremendous pleasure of attending a three-hour workshop with Marc Rowland at Montreal Improv. The workshop focused on physicality and mime, which unfortunately is my one debilitating area of weakness when it comes to improvising.
For example, I have a tendency to become extremely confused when I’m asked to pretend to be something I’m not, like a squirrel:
That confusion is only increased tenfold when I’m asked to interact with an inanimate object that doesn’t exist, like pretending to ride a bike:
You can only imagine what happens to my brain when I’m asked to combine the two, like pretending to be a squirrel who’s riding a bike:
Needless to say, I was in dire need of some help.
As always, Marc had some excellent lessons to teach that are not only valid for making better scenes, but that are also just plain old good advice. I’ve compiled a list for you.
1.Make your penis big.
This is not just undesirable spam in your hotmail inbox, this is good advice for life in general.
Let me explain. When you make the decision to do something bold, like whip out your (imaginary) penis in a scene, you may as well make it big. Give it your all. Go big or go home.
2.Take it slow.
Like an asian in math class, we tend to speed through things. This is true in a scene as well as in life. We often become so focused on the destination, the conclusion or the goal that we forget to enjoy all the fun things that can arise while we get there. Pause for a second, look around you and breathe. Stop worrying about the end, you’ll get there eventually.
3.Play with it.
In a scene, like in life, sometimes problems, quirks or funny characters can arise. Don’t just brush them off and keep going, you’ll miss out on all the fun! Instead, make a game out of things. Learning to see the fun in life’s ordinary aspects is one of the best lessons you can ever learn. Trust me, you will never be bored again.
4. Sometimes it’s good to suffer.
When things are going well for too long it not only becomes boring, but you also cease to learn. There is a moral to take away from every hard lesson you’ve ever learned. Walk towards the danger. Embrace the things that allow you to grow.
5. Like the rest of this post, turning a doorknob can be dirty.
Just think about it.
Like or Tweet this if you’re still thinking about it.
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