'2V2A lvlltliell thEmflIlfltfl|l|§ ‘ FEBRUARY 2006 1 MOUNTAINPRIDEMEDIAORG COMEDY Going for Brake furluughs BY LYNN MCNICOL " reating comedy is serious business. People study the art, including a group that meets weekly in Burlington to learn “improv,” as it's called when comedians create their own humor on the spot. Many in the Vikdnesday night class at the Waterfront Theater belong to the 10-year-old group Kamikaze Com- edy, while others are attending for the first time. Matt Wohl, one , of the newer Kamikaze members, started the course last fall as part of his “Kamikaze Comedy College of Improvology." Anyone may join in, and tryouts are sometimes This one definitely separates the beginners from the veterans, and results in lots of laughter and groans. - The two-hour practice session is full of fun and surprises, as the dozen-plus women and men cre- ate humorous situations involving photographers, jellyfish, report cards, chiropractors, dancing and- almost anything else. Sometimes it gets physical when people pre- tend to fight, give yoga lessons or create scenes of intimacy. There are also quieter mo- ments as Wohl coaches partici- pants. “You have to justify the tuba," Wohl advises two men who are Anyone may join in the Kamikaze Comedy ‘College of improvology,' started last fall by Matt Wohl. KC has performed benefits for SafeSpace and for R.U.1.2? scheduled for those interested in performing with KC. The class doubles as practice for the core members of Kami- kaze Comedy. “It's an excellent refiesher for us,” said Matt Saltus, the only one of three founders still active with KC. “The troupe really has taken off in the last few years," he noted. KC has per- formed at many venues around the area, including benefits for local GLBT organizations. Mak- ing Kamikaze Comedy a success involves “trusting each other to create something together,” Wohl said. “That’s the key to improv." There is a basic coopera- tion that takes place during the warmup exercises. People have to get nonverbal permission from each other to trade places during one exercise where they are mov- ing about in a circle. In another, louder exercise, participants make lots of noise pretending to be elephants and “kamikaze” pilots. In the same exercise, people try to say “bop” before,anotl\er person says the “bop” in “bippety-bippety-bop.” pretending to fly a hot-air balloon. One of them had just pulled an in- visible tuba out from somewhere without explaining its existence. He said it was used for weight, then added an incredible tale about landing an ailing hot air bal- loon on a football field while the marching band was playing; thus taking out the tuba player, which “mined my balloon.” “So it's a weight AND a souvenir," dead- pa.nned his partner. “That's exact- ly right,” the man responded. , In another skit, Geeda pre- . tends to need custom—made shoes for her sore feet while another woman; Chris, makes her a new pair. After some words of advice from Wohl, the shoes are finally produced and offered to the cus- tomer. “Here are the shoes," the cobbler says, holding her hands toward Geeda, then hesitates a moment. “What's your favor- ite color?" she asks the other woman. “Blue,” Geeda answers “They're blue," Chris says, hand- ing them over. Theclass laughs . and applauds. V ‘ "S A lot of improv scenes could start two minutes later, Wohl ad- vises. Comedians learn to leave out . extraneous parts so that the audi- ence can appreciate the fine humor at the center of the situation. Kamikaze Comedy perfomis weekly at Smugglers Notch dur- ing winter and surruner months, and has wowed audiences on Lake Champlain cruises, at the Vergennes Opera House, Burling- ton’s Flyrm Space, a home health agency in Addison County, and an American Legion in Middlebury. KC has also performed ben- efits for Sa.feSpace the past three years and for R.U.1.2?, providing much—needed support — and lots of equally needed laughs — for our community. In addition there's the “comedy marathon" at First Night in Burl- ington, a 12-hour-long event that celebratesbringing in the New Year. KC members and alumni sign up to perform for as short or long a period of time as they want, Saltus said. Two alumni , actually performed the entire 12 hours last year. Jason Lorber, a stand-up co- median who produces his own shows, also does irnprov with Kamikaze Comedy. Lorber often performs his stand-up routine first and then joins KC’s following act. Lorber, a state legislator from Burlington who is openly gay, said he started performing in clubs and went from there. “I just did it,” he laughed, “. .. that’s the short answer.” A couple of years ago Lorber put on a show for First Night called “Howard Dean, a Moose and a Gay Rabbi Walk into a Bar,” and he has participated in the marathons as well. “I find improv is a geat way of dealing with change,” Lorber mused. “You have to learn how to deal with what you've been given. So much of our life we plan Improv classmates in mid-January get moving (above) and pose like ‘ ‘junior birdmen’ (left). Photos by 1 § Lynn McNicol. " and try to control our’ environ- ment, and improv teaches you that whatever you are given you can make sense of it and laugh at yourself." A Saltus said his own involve- ment in KC “does take some work,” but is something “I always have energy for.” Everyone does this for a different reason, he said. For example, some people prefer irnprov because they don’t like scripts. Saltus long ago took an acting course that included a section on improv, and when he came to Burlington, his partner gave a workshop that also includ- ed irnprov. Later, KC was formed. The comedians chose the . name Kamikaze Comedy because , they “liked the alliteration and "- the rhyme," Saltus said. However, they plan to change the name so it doesn't offend anyone. But the new name is a secret —‘ for now. This month there will be a special opportunity for the public ,,.,.).,,._ __..,‘_«_,_,) . - ~-— -4. to engage in, observe and oth- erwise enjoy the art of irnprov. Kamikaze Comedy is hosting workshops and performances at the Waterfront Theater the week- end of February 17th through the T .7" 19th, with shows all three days V _ and workshops on Saturday and Sunday. V ~ ‘ 5:‘ in .'< For more information, call M ’ ;_,, at 864-9672 or 863-1929. '