Annoyance Level Three - Week Seven

Today in class we were all very hateful to each other.
WE basically focused on the idea that even though improv is an art form based around the idea of agreement, you don't always have to be good two-shoes on stage living in a rainbow world of puppies and flowers. This idea actually goes to something I believe is absolutely key for great improv to happen: while as actors you must agree with your partner and accept any thing they throw out there - as characters, fuck that bull shit. You don;t even have to like the other character - in fact you can hate them.
And it also highlights one of the best things about The Annoyance: This theater gives you the freedom to be completely uncensored on stage, which honestly is an amazing gift in this art.

Comedy isn't personal, even when it's directed at you.

The main exercise we did was called "Thank You"
Two players did a scene where the goal was to be as hateful as possible to each other's characters. Whenever one character said something hateful to another, the recipient must reply thank you and expound on that flaw, or whatever the first character brought up.
The scenes were incredibly fun (both to watch and play in) and really showed how everything be a gift on stage if used correctly.

From the class we took these ideas:
If you start as yourself and someone says something hateful, you'll get defensive You don't have to one up people in a scene If you say something with "authenticity" the audience will believe you, if you say something with the mentality of "here's a funny joke" they won't
Everyone can talk out their ass & bullshit about random things at a party - the key is allowing yourself the same freedom to do that on stage
Your inner monologue is NOT serving you
If you want to be in the moment: DO Something, TASTE Something, FEEL Something
Comedy is never personal, even when it's directed at you.