Truth in Comedy: The Manual of ImprovisationWant to learn the improv techniques that helped Mike Myers, Chris Farley, John Belushi, and many others along the road to TV and film stardom? Then let two esteemed founders of long-form improvisational theatre, Del Close and Charna Halpern, teach you the "Harold." This groundbreaking acting exercise emphasizes pattern recognition and subversion of the audience's expectations, which are important factors for making people laugh without ever telling a joke. It involves six to seven players and many kinds of scenes: games, monologues, songs, skits and more, all of which are bound to keep both actors and audience members guessing. The Harold is non-linear entertainment that remembers everything and wastes nothing the key to successful improvising and has become a standard in comedy clubs and improv theatres around the globe. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - SharkRodeo - LibraryThingThis book lays out the various improv concepts of Second City and ImprovOlympic (IO Theater) and describes the synthesis of the long form format "the Harold". It lays out the principal concepts of ... Read full review
Review: Truth in Comedy: The Manual for Improvisation
User Review - PATRICK - GoodreadsA must-read for improv actors. Staggering genius. Read full review
Other editions - View all
Truth in Comedy: The Manual for Improvisation Charna Halpern,Del Close,Kim Johnson No preview available - 1994 |
Common terms and phrases
action actors actually agree agreement ahead asks attention audience basic become begins better Bill Murray called CHAPTER characters choice Chris comedy comes commit completely connections continue COUPLE course create developed direction director discover discussed don't easy entire everything example exercise fellow players funny game moves give happen Harold heads Hot Spot idea immediately important improv improvisation ImprovOlympic initiation inspired interesting it's jokes laugh leads listening look means mind mistake moment never Night once opening Pattern Game performers person physical planned play players possible questions relationship remember response rules says scene Second City simple situation speaking stage started step story suggestion talking teaches tell theme things thought trust trying usually walk Wendt woman



