I had such a horrible experience here…read more
Oddly enough I was an audience member, so you'd think I'd have a good time. Oddly enough I was one of only maybe 5 or 6 people in the theater, and a paying spectator, so you'd think I'd be valued on some level. Oddly enough, I was all dolled up, in a cute skirt, cute hair, faux fur coat, so you'd think someone would at least take my show of respect as a signal I should be treated with the slightest kindness. Oddly enough, I clapped, I smiled, I heckled no one, Heck I even tried to participate when the MC lady tried to get "the crowd" hyped up. So you'd think someone would have thought, "geez, she paid, she's a kind spectator, she got all dressed up like it is the 1950s and I was having a night at the theater.
You may think that, but you'd be wrong. During the audience participation, I said something that was, granted, kind of dumb. But it wasn't even funny dumb. It was more like, "did you hear the question, lady?" Truth be told, I did but I guess I was absent minded and gave a dumb answer. Truthfully, it made no real difference that I made an airhead comment. I'm not even a comedian but I can think of a way to make a joke about my airhead comment -- without making me feel like a fool. But that's what the MC did, and later one of the performers referenced the airhead-y comment, effectively making me a human call-back joke. I felt mortified, even though there were only 5-6 spectators in the room.
I love comedy. I follow comedians. I read about their lives. I read about comedic theory. I am fascinated to learn that Keenan Ivory Wayans says there's a "math of the joke." I am equally interested in learning more about how before she was in Friends, Lisa Kudrow studied sit-com, like it was a full time job. My point is that, while I am not a performer, I do know a little about comedy.
The one thing I know for sure is that in Improv, the overriding philosophy is "yes, and..." That means that, when someone says something, the improv artist must never negate anything someone else says. Instead the second actor adds to what the first person said.
Knowing that "yes and" is central to Improv, I am disappointed that at this particular improv performance, both the MC (instructor) and performer literally mocked me, negating everything that I brought to their stage: a paid ticket, a good attitude, respectful attire and a willingness to participate.
What I received in return was the overriding internal feeling that "I must never return here again."
