Too Strong, Too Strange, Too Soon: Pirate Class 201
Lately I’ve been infatuated by the idea of “Pirate moves” in improv. A pirate move attacks the scene with a lot of fun, with no regard to one’s own dear life. You know it when you see it. Some call it “bold moves” or “strong choices” — to me, a pirate move is more than a bold move, with that element of free-wheeling and risk. A pirate move has irreversible consequence, raising the temperature of a scene. A good pirate move at the right time can inject energy to a stalling scene.
I was at an Impro Neuf show last night, observing people’s moves. It makes me think about what kind of pirate moves are there. I identify three types of pirate moves in one night: Too Strong, Too Strange, Too Soon (heavy references to Improv Comedy Wednesday: After Eight Tits / MSG / Dybvig & Boge).
Too Strong
In Dybvig & Boge’s set, Asgeir was saying how much he loves his partner. How he really loves her. Really, really, really, REALLY love her. REALLLY REALLY LOVE HER.
Too strong means that one responds a little too much to an offer. The type of response might be natural, but the magnitude is unexpected. This type of over-expression is so fun to watch, it makes audience think “Jesus H. Christ, what’s the deal with this guy?” Someone cannot really enjoy mayonnaise that much. Something must be going on.
Too Strange
In After Eight Tits’ set, Kristine was very anxiously waiting for a crush to appear at the door. Ingeborg comes up as a delivery guy for a washer-dryer combo.
Too Strange is something totally out of left field. You have heard me yelling “What the fuck!” at our theatre when I did not see that one coming. If you’re not at the show, you don’t know why this is funny. If you were at the show, you would be rolling on the floor. Too Strange is all being in the moment. The element of surprise is simply funny. The more specific, the more funny.
Too Strange is the bread-and-butter of Family Guy comedy, but it does not necessarily have to be absurdist. Having the “wrong” emotional response for a natural thing is as good or even better.
Police interrogation scene.
Perpetrator: “I killed a man. I cannot sleep now.”
Police (Rosa): “So take a pill?”
Too Strange reignites a scene because it opens a world of possibility and we are not following the common track. It adds another wrinkle to the scene, and when you blend it into the scene, it’s super satisfying.
Too Soon
In Improv Speakeasy’s set, Robin presents a shoe to a girl.
“Hi Linda.”
“Hi Robin.”
“I don’t usually give things away. Except to people I love.”
Too Soon is revealing sensitive information too soon. We have developed a natural sense of timing on when things happens. So, when you present something way too early, it makes your heart skip a beat. Often we do the opposite. When we realize where an improv scene is heading, we slow it down (called bridging) and plan it like a scripted theatre. If you know what’s going to happen, make it happen. Move two steps forward, put yourself in the excitement of uncharted waters for more discovery. Pirate!