Back in high school during the 1980s—just kidding, the early 2010s—drama class was one of my preferred electives. I found myself to be decent at certain forms of acting, or at least bold enough to try (although the song and dance elements of musical theatre were well outside my realm of interest).
Improvisational theatre, or improv, was my favourite: a medium of performing where most or all of what happens on stage is created spontaneously.
Then I graduated believing my short-lived acting days were over. No part of me wanted to pursue live entertainment as a career, so instead I got two university degrees and put my writing skills to work as a journalist.
Drama unexpectedly found me again this January. No, not a breakup or a shocking revelation about a once-trusted individual. The other kind of drama.
I volunteered to go onstage at an improv show hosted by local comedy troupe Laugh Out LIVE. Afterwards, a number of people—including the three friends I brought, eight or nine strangers and Laugh Out LIVE co-founder Rebecca Mason—heaped praise upon my off-the-cuff role in a skit about a restaurant.
"You killed it!" Rebecca said that night. "You saved the whole skit!"
My friends suggested I try out Laugh Out LIVE's upcoming mixed-level improv class. It was the most unnecessary peer pressure I'd ever gotten.
Before we go any further, I'll emphasize that this column is not meant to be a testimonial for Laugh Out LIVE. I've had positive experiences with the group and I've written about them for my job as a sports/arts reporter, but it is up to you to decide if you want to check out any of their stuff.
Instead my goal is to share my thoughts on dipping my toe back into performance art in adulthood and why I believe it can be a worthwhile experience for virtually anyone.
Fun, personal growth
Improv is a productive hobby for me because I am naturally good at it—yet at the same time I've got much to learn. That's a great zone to inhabit for somebody wanting to pick up a new skill.
As a naturally extroverted, quick-witted and imaginative man, I relish envisioning various outside-the-box scenarios and helping others spontaneously bring them to life. I appreciate interacting with other people's ideas, laughing with them and using their inspiration to jumpstart my own.
Introverts might find all of the above daunting… but that's an excellent reason to try. People don't grow if we remain in our comfort zones forever, and over the last two-odd months I've watched my shyer and less-experienced classmates emerge from their shells. You don't have to like acting, per se, but improv can help you boost self-esteem and potentially make friends in an uplifting environment.
Improv is also teaching me that mistakes in life are inevitable, but it's how I respond to these screwups that matters most.
Even our instructors, Mason and Ira Pettle, sometimes falter in exercises they've been doing and teaching for years. They just shrug it off and move on—in fact they seem completely unafraid of showing us pupils they aren't perfect. I tend to beat myself up for mistakes I deem "avoidable," but that isn't the healthiest outlook on life.
Finally, improv can be fun: and that fact is of vital importance because far too many adults forget how to have fun.
I am not arguing that as grown-ups we should be childish. There are bills to pay, mouths to feed, relationships to maintain, jobs to hold down, responsibilities to address, etc. Immature people don't usually succeed at any of these endeavours.
Nevertheless, it is tragic when a human being forgets how to be childlike. Life can be difficult, but it also contains joy, and what's the point of living if you're unable to find that joy? Fun (when had wisely) keeps our minds active and our souls happy, which in turn energizes us to do what's required in paying those bills, feeding those mouths and giving back to our communities.
If there is a person on Earth who can attain consistent mental, spiritual and emotional health without having fun, I've yet to meet or hear about them.
The other day I was video-calling a friend of mine. Upon hearing of my improv exploits she said something along the lines of: "Improv is like playing games. We adults don't get to play games much. That should change."
It absolutely should.
