The Day I Rained on Parades

On Monday night our small group of improv class students performed our first show for other people. A small group of other people. And friends and family other people at that. But other people nonetheless. 

It did, as our coach Laurie Murphy predicted it would, kick us up to another level of focus. It was thrilling and (at least in the moments leading up to it) butterfly-inducing.

I am so happy I didn’t slink away from the opportunity.

Here’s me, toward the end, part of a “rant” we each performed in series; the prompt from the audience was “summer,” and my opening line being “What the fuck is up with parades!?”. I fear that if video of my performance is leaked, I may be rendered ineligible for membership in (or fire service from) the North River and Crossroads Fire Departments, as there was more than a little “and what’s the deal with the fire trucks?!” content woven into my ranting. The “rant” has been where I’ve been at my least comfortable since I started going to classes in November, and I was happy with where I landed on Monday: I gave it my all.

Here’s a photo of our hearty gang of improvisers:

Laurie is back at it on Monday nights next week, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at The Haviland Club. $30/night. It’s a drop-in format, so you can drop in on any Monday. And, as I am the shining example of, you need neither experience for a surplus of confidence to try.