Report by Trish: "Level II: The Principle of Improv Class show" at Magnet Theatre

April 2011
By: toto_too514
Edited by: Marcy

Yes, Not surprisingly, Randy moved on to the Level II Long Form Improv Class offered by the Magnet Theater. A sweetie here on LJ gave me the heads up about the show. But since it was kind of last minute, I wasn’t 100% sure I would be able to make it… but some friends and I managed to get there, and we were very happy that we did.

This time out Randy was part of a six person group that called themselves “Like, Whoa.” Don’t know who comes up with these names! This performance was slightly different than the first, which was entirely made up of short, 2-3 minute skits. Here, after a few short intros, the students basically kept the same “persona” as they moved in pairs through different scenes. There were several very good students, including a few that I recognized from the first class. But Randy was so much more polished in his scenes. Another thing we noticed was his projection. Some of the other students were difficult to hear and understand even in a small room.

The first skit involved all six students repeating the same lines which were started with a suggestion from the audience. As they repeated the lines, they moved around the stage and back and forth with each other almost “weaving” the story together. And even though they were saying the same lines, they said them with different inflections; thereby changing the meaning. Randy repeated two lines – “Stop staring at me!” (I thought it was particularly appropriate for him! LOL!) And then his second line, “I’m tired of all these secrets!”

They then moved to short skit similar to the first show… the suggestion from the audience was a player and a coach. Randy took the part of the coach giving his best deep macho voice as he instructed his player to throw with, “Back straight.” “Bend here.” “What’s with that jump?” “You’re killing me here.” When the player said something about “hurting my feelings,” he responded with, “Better your feelings than that back…” It was cute. Randy was pacing and groaning and waving his hands and just generally being agitated as the “pitcher” tried to follow his instructions.

As I said before, the majority of the time spent onstage the students kept the same roles as they performed longer 5-6 minutes scenes with a partner. They would then trade off with a different pair and then come back later and pick up the same characters and new scenes. Randy performed with a very tall young woman with long brown hair who was also quite good. She, however, played a “redneck, backward” son to Randy’s “Unibomber” styled father.

He started the scene rummaging through a “refrigerator” finding only, “A can of tuna in oil and some lunchables.” The scene developed as he tried to feed his son to fatten him up “because your mother says you need to gain 15 lbs by next week. I don’t want to be the one to disappoint her!” The son asked if “Dad” had been in WWII (which was connected to another scene done by two different students.) Randy responded, “Hell yes, I was in WW II.” “And Vietnam, too.” After a beat or two he added, “And Korea… you know, in between the two.” Another beat and then “I’m leaving for Iraq next week.” That got a big laugh!

They continued back and forth this way, with Randy urging his “son” to eat up, “Your Mom says 15 lbs.” “Lot of good sodium in that lunchable. “ They also talked of hooking up with a mysterious Mrs. McGuire, but Dad urged, “You won’t have the strength to thrust if you don’t finish the tuna.” And, “Mom was so disappointed when you dropped out of DeVrie.” That line got one of the loudest laughs of the night!

The next time Randy and his partner performed, the “son” was doing pushups as Dad was counting the reps… They talked of Mrs. McGuire, now knocked up and carrying three new spawn. I forget now the exact context of the line, but Randy came out with, “I could have taken you out back and shot you in the head, but I didn’t did I? And it wasn’t because I loved you or anything.” “Your week’s almost up, gotta get those 15 lbs for Mom.” “Want another lunchable?” The son then asked, “How did you and Mom get together?” Randy stroked his chin thoughtfully, and responds, “I kidnapped her.” Then it was dead silence… like everyone was waiting for someone to say something else. Randy then shrugged his shoulders, and says very calmly, “No, that’s all.” After feeling a bit uncomfortable at first, it was actually pretty funny and got a huge laugh.

He then began talking about “Stockholm Syndrome.” To which the “son” replied, “Yeah, think that cat was sick with that.” And Randy comes back with, “And he sits on my lap and puuuuuuurs, too.” They ended the scene with, “See, the oil in the tuna got you the 15 lbs and another week!”

As the exercise wrapped up, the students switched partners… picking up on each other’s storylines. Randy was now paired with another woman whose storyline was that of a woman searching for a date on line. Randy of course kidnapped her from the restaurant, that “my family owns,” before they could eat… so he offered her a “lunchable or a tuna in oil.” “I ain’t got no vegan shake, I got tuna in oil and a lunchable.”

It was very enjoyable and entertaining evening… and with this style, there was more of Randy to see. I certainly hope he continues with the next Level Classes, although not really sure how his current schedule would accommodate an 8 week class - with his trip to Israel, and then Tommy rehearsals starting in June… but maybe something to look forward to in the fall!

For those that need to know, Randy had on his black Adidas high-top sneakers, some loose-fitting black slacks and a short-sleeve white cotton hoodie. He had taken off his beige argyle sweater before starting the show – it was hot and stuffy in that room! His hair is getting very long on the top, although the back is still short. (And he used to help give him the slightly demented look he needed for “Dad” by letting it fall in his face as he peered out from beneath the strands.) He also had at least a week’s worth of facial hair which added to the “look.”