improv characters to explore

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13/12/2022 by Carl Reynolds

Improv – whether comedic or tragic – plays to common, rare and universal themes. It helps me to explore the world around me through the lens and actions of my fellow players. I’m running an exercise at the moment to use one or more of my own internal characters to use in improv. Here they are. Some or more of them may also be familiar to your own true selves. Enjoy the refelction.

Bhudda

The part of your identity or character that enables you to be tranquil in the face of adversity and opportunity. Not to suppress your enthusiasm, but to delight in the variety of ways to consider, reflect and act on. Or not.

Grumpy old man

People have no respect for each other anymore. Look at the idiot. What are they doing? Really…? Victor Mildrew on turbo chargers.

Wisecrack

Always with the play on words, euphemisms, innuendoes, Spoonerisms, and genial retorts to everything. And in the shadows; the pedant, the prolix, the attention seeking forces brat.

Intellectual

Aspirant polymath. Ceaselessly reading, chatting about it, thinking of how to apply it. Watching, observing, reflecting, adjusting. Spiralling down through the odd existential moment, but mostly skateboarding along.

Clown

The fool. Arms don’t work, legs don’t work. Face is elastic. Brain’s not firing on all synapses. Misunderstands wilfully and gleefully.

Host

Hello. Lovely to see you. How is Anna doing in Toronto? Can I get you a drink, some tea, some cake? Yes, you must have cake. So, tell me what you’ve been thinking about lately?

Enabler

I work as a facilitator. It’s easy. You listen, you reflect what you’ve heard for the benefit of all. You clarify meanings, nuances, assumptions to build a common understandng of both the issue and the perspectives of those present. Both those that align and those that are dissonant. What emerges from this as nascent agreements? Does it work in the real world? What might those you represent think? Test it. And is a consensus possible? Can we live and do things without a consensus? How?

The Stoic

You can only change that over which you have agency. The rest is good to know, but only as far as it affects how you can act. You choose how you respond to any stimulus. The trick is to know those that have been ingrained and socialised, and unravel them. To weave a better, more useful pattern of response.

The clumsy

Bloody hell, knocked that glass over again. Stubs toe. Clips side of swimming pool doing backstroke. Dives inelegantly. Drops keys, phone, whatever, when distracted. Trips.