Acting funny
The Improv is all set to tickle the Pune audience with improvisational comedy performances and a pinch of craziness
Bangalore’s beloved comedy experience, The Improv is all set to perform in Pune for the first time and introduce the audience to the concept of improvisational comedy. It is a first-of-its-kind interactive comic act in India were the audience are involved with comedians through 60 minutes of the show. The act is produced by Centerstage, has hilarious novel rounds, crazy actors, and universal comedic moments that are created live and on the spot. They’ve performed over 100 shows across Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Dubai and most recently became the only Indian team to be invited to the Sweden International Improv Festival. The Improv is hosted by filmmaker Saad Khan, who apart from being a funny man is known for making Bangalore’s first Hindi feature film Station.
The show amalgamates acting, spontaneity, interactive banter, and most importantly audience involvement. With a larger than life appeal in its production value, it’s like watching a fun movie that has all genres in its screenplay and something for everyone. “We have the audience giving us situations and then we perform the scenes on the spot. The situations can be as simple as an argument between a traffic policeman and a drunk driver, or as complicated as a couple falling in love on the moon,” explains Saad.
Performing comedy on stage without a script is by no means easy, but The Improv actors Danish Sait, Darius Sunawala, Abel Mathews and Tim Schultz make it seem like a walk in the park. Being a TV presenter, the mascot of the Royal Challengers Bangalore at IPL, RJ and a prankster with over 22 million hits on Soundcloud, Danish is an adept voice actor and mimic. Darius, known as the Don of the Radio in Bangalore brings “off the cuff” acting to The Improv. Stand-up comedian and actor Abel brings in his repertoire of accents as well as sketches of various personalities to the show while Tim is an American stand-up comedian who is a mature improviser when it comes to acting and mime. “The challenge here is being ready for the impromptu situations. We also try and bring out the suggestions from the audience,” adds Saad.
The Improv, though similar in its genre as the popular show Whose Line is it Anyway, is quite unique, believes Saad. “The only common ground is improvisation. For example, Love Actually or Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge are both romantic films, but they have very different story lines,” he says. The act has six rounds, with the show lasting for 90 minutes or more depending on the audience.
When: September 18, 2016
Where: Liberty Square, Phoenix Marketcity, Viman Nagar
zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
Originally published on The Golden Sparrow
