FeedsSharp witted
‘Improv at the Point’ is the best of live comedy
Staff Writer
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Dave DaviesFor many actors, improvisational comedy is the equivalent of working without a net.
If this is the case with cast members who work improv nights at the Tipping Point Theater in Northville, you’d never know it.
Twice a month, local actors and comedians put on one of the most entertaining live shows in the area. In a genre where every punch line is up for grabs and George senior can drop by unexpectedly for a late night hot tub hob nob, Improv at the Point just goes to show that, in comedy, sometimes the best laughs are those that you never saw coming.
For those who missed reruns of the BBC’s Whose Line is it Anyway? or episodes of the American incarnation hosted by Drew Carey, improvisational comedy is the impish stepchild of skit humor and stand-up, with one important caveat: all the scenes are suggested by audience members and made up on the spot.
The format is similar to sketch comedy, with a cast of four members, a host, and a musician accompanying the actors on piano. The host of the show asks audience members to call out random objects and titles, while one unlikely scene after another is played out sans script and cast members scramble to roll with the punches.
I’ll admit that my first exposure to this impromptu art form was in high school drama class, and brought up scary memories of me and other would-be thespians huddled downstage like a murder of crows, while our half-crazed drama coach insisted we weren’t “committing to the scene”.
That trauma became a distant memory when I attended the Tipping Point improv night, where cast members actually seemed to be enjoying themselves, and had no problem taking the audience along for the ride.
During the show Tuesday, cast members were asked to incorporate an ax, hot tub, 1,000 sock puppets and a nude waiter into their sketches. Some audience members became spontaneous puppet masters during a skit, when cast members froze in place and could move only with manual intervention. The show ended with a hilarious full-blown musical called “Snakes on a Bus”, compliments of some last minute audience ingenuity.
If nothing else, improv’s ever-evolving format ensures that crowds will never be bored for long.
Made up of a revolving troupe of 10 different performers, running host Dave Davies officiates over the organized chaos, with the help of musician Geff Phillips who accompanies on piano.
The entire cast is outstanding, and Davies keeps the momentum going with his unbridled enthusiasm and quick, showman’s style.
Cast member Margaret Edwartowski’s down-to-earth humor meshed well with the off-the- cuff format, while Mikey Wilson’s easy, charming wit made quick changes look easy.
David Herbst’s relaxed friendliness translated well throughout many different incarnations, while Mike McGettigan’s clever, over-the-top malleability made him an instant crowd favorite.
Throughout it all, Phillips accompanied the troupe with vaudevillian flair on the piano, showing a taste for the limelight as well, when he led audience members through a mid-show intermission.
The real magic of the show, however, aside from the unmistakable talent of the troupe, is the way improv comedy is able to translate some of the roller coaster of live performance to the audience, providing a vicarious thrill for those who prefer life behind the wings.
There is simply something uniquely exciting about seeing comedy created first hand. Like the difference between hearing a joke at work and trying to explain what was funny about it later over dinner, sometimes, in comedy, you just had to be there.
Improv at the Point is every first and third Tuesday of the month. Shows begin at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $8. For more information, call (248) 347-0003.
