Poker on her birthday

Back from the River Rock Casino.

Am not getting boobs or liposuction.

Diana

It's Diana's Birthday!

That's right. I turned 36 years old today. How have I celebrated so far? Had breakfast with Drew and Roman, then went to try on bathing suits cause the cabin I'm going to this weekend has a hot tub. Note to self: DO NOT try on bathing suits on your birthday. (There's a joke in there somewhere about my birthday suit, but I'm too depressed to find it.) Tonight I'm going to play poker at River Rock Casino. If I win big, I'm buying boobs and liposuction.

Eric Fell - What's the Deal?

Eric Fell. What's the deal with this guy? I mean he's funny, sure. A fresh new improv talent. Getting lots of play both with Urban Improv and Vancouver Theatresports. But what's the deal with him? Seriously, what's the deal?

Last Night at the Urban Well

Last night at the Urban Well there were scenes with Edison Vs. Tesla, a Mime Vs. a Pirate and a rich man vs. his own body. Also Roman and Diana learned about an obscure film from the 80s called "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" which they apparently had never heard of.

I'm sure I'm spelling his name wrong but a young improvisor named Jas did a great job and taught us all the true meaning of friendship and at one point was riding Ian like rented mule.

Remembering Speak in One Voice

The improv game Speak in One Voice passed away this weekend at home surrounded by it's loved ones. Friends of the game agreed it was very old and frankly its time to die was long overdue, still it shall be missed. It was due to appear at the Vancouver Theatresports 25th Anniversary reunion show this Sunday and it's best friend, Arms Scene, has volunteered to replace it.
Speak in One Voice is survived by longtime companion, Alphabet Game and their adopted child, Hat Game.

In lieu of flowers, the estate has requested that improvisors make up some damn new games.

Do Onions Make You Sexy?

While Drew and Diana test this out, let me take the time to say, remember to vote in the Canadian Comedy Awards www.canadiancomedyawards.ca

Diana Frances and Ian Boothby are both nominated for best improvisor and Urban Improv is up for best improv group.

Heck while you're there why not check out the best comedic play category and watch a clip from Sword Play featuring Ian, Jeff Gladstone and Penelope Corrin. It's a very violent smackdown with a Canadian icon.

Or if creepy giant ghosts are your bag, check out the A Twisted Christmas Carol link. Both Sword and Twisted are packed with Urban Improv folks.

Chicken Feet

Ever had chicken feet? Well this is what they look like. And how do they taste? Well the flavour is quite nice (the sauce), but the texture is odd. There is no meat, only skin. So if you like soft, slippery chicken skin, then order chicken feet.

Now, what does that have to do with Urban Improv? Nothing.

Drew's RCMPness (it's funnier if you say it out loud)

As often as I'm keeping an eye out for bad photos, Drew is fighting the crime against bad roving character gigs.

Diana Keeps An Eye Out For Bad Photos of Herself

Diana Frances of Vancouver's Urban Improv is keeping a close lookout for bad photos of herself... for example the one of her in a rubber dingy (see below). Return to this blog for periodic updates on her mission.

Let Us Have A Moment of Silence

Urban Improv Takes a Moment to Remember the Fringe

The last show for Urban Improv went very well. There was a nice big house, and they were responsive. It took a bit to get them on our side, but we won them over. By the time the wolf attacked Toby in the woods everyone knew what kind of a show they were in for. Check out www.urbanimprov.ca and perhaps there will be a video posted there one day.

Until then. Goodbye Fringe.

And So Ends The Fringe

Photo: Tallulah Winkelman steps in for Diana Frances for final shows.

Diana Frances was unable to perform at the last two shows because she had a better, paying gig somewhere else! In beautiful Banff. Some other members of the cast would have liked to go along, but were unable because they had too many damn lines in the show!

Diana was missed, but also quickly replaced by Tallulah Winkelman who did a great job and claims to have had fun as well. The audience seemed to enjoy the final shows very much. The Vancouver Fringe is done. And.... winter starts now!

Them's fightin' words

I totaly missed this response to our first post on this blog. Thought it was worth putting up again.

zcsmith said...
Oh my god when on gods green earth will people STOP performing Improv as a viable form of entertainment!!!

I have had the misfortune of briefly working with Diana Francis and Chris Cassilian or whatever his last name is once ago, far way, and it was incredibly painful! It was for a summer program with kids and these two "performers" really believed the hype!!

Ok back to my rant about Improv. I have never in my life got what is so incredibly entertaining about watching people who believe they are both talented and funny make up stuff as they go along.

I realize that there are and can be moments of genius, but they are far too few and far between for my money!

I don't care how many great reviews you guys get from the papers because it is clear that most reviews are really a bad guide to what is good and what isn't, being that they are incredibly subjective of course.

My rant is because over the past years I have continued to see people perform and act as though they were the funniest people who would ever walk the earth, yet I would watch and think, "hmmm these people really enjoy hearing themselves talk!"

Improv screams for a revisit to Vaudville!!

Improv is incredibly difficult and it is a great way to learn skills, but to make it into a career, I just shake my head...NOOOOO!!!!!

Ad lib, now that is entertainment. Take a script and then toss a few ad libs in that work, and then you have something with fire underneath it!

"who's line is it" or whatever it was called with Drew Carey and Ryan Stiles. Feh! complete Drek.

I could go on and on, but my rants are needed elsewhere!

Lots of love....

ZC

People really get mad at improv. Man do they get mad at it. When we did Sketchfest in Vancouver when I tried to get across that we do sketch improv, that is improvised sketch comedy I almost got my head bit off. Sketch was sacred and improv was hack.

I call Bullshit!

Some improv is hack. Some stand-up is hack. Some sit-coms are hack. The form itself isn't. It's what you do with it. Our goal when Urban Improv started was to try something new, and 7 years later I think we've come up with a form that's simple and our own.

When you lump all improv together you're just wrongheaded. When you come to someone's web site and slam the members of the group you're out of line. Debate the form if you'd like but get insulting and you can fuck off.

You don't like Who's Line? Fine but millions of folks do. Are they all wrong?

I smell a lot of bitter on you. My advice would be to lose the chip and the smug. Maybe an improv class would help you interact with folks better. One of the first rules of improv is to not try and be funny (or think you're funny) but to try and make the other person on stage look good.

Ian

Diana has asked that I add this...

oh fuck off. we're funny.

diana

Growing Audiences Means A Better Show!

Photo: Urban Improv's Diana Frances waves the finger of love at the world.

As audience sizes increase from good to even better, the show that each audience member experiences becomes even better still! How so? 'Cause it's theatre damn it! It is an experience that,unlike TV, requires some audience interaction -- not so much audience participation -- but audience interaction. The response from the audience is the fuel that feeds the comedy fire. SO, IF you are interested in LAUGHING HARD, and having a great theatre experience, this show is for you. If you have not seen the show, do so! The audience size has now reached a level where the comedy is contageous, like the black plague, but funnier.

Four Stars (no hearts, moons, clovers or blue diamonds though)

The Vancouver Sun just gave our Fringe show Urban Improv presents Canadian Content four stars. Do you know how big that is? Well our sun is a star and that's thousands of times bigger than our planet Earth. So imagine four stars side by side. You can't wrap your head around something that big. I can't even concieve of what the gravity would be like.

Four stars.

It blows my mind.

The Globe and Mail

Thanks to the Globe and Mail for giving us the cover to their 7 Days section this week for Urban Improv presents Canadian Content.

I'm in my underwear on the cover of the newspaper. Man, the reoccuring dream has become reality.

Ian

It's an Honour just to be Nominated

www.canadiancomedyawards.ca

Urban Improv has been nominated for the second year in a row for best improv troupe in the Canadian Comedy Awards. It's always a kick being given a nod from your peers. I could be smart ass and dismiss this saying competition when it comes to any art form doesn't really matter (which it really doesn't) and awards ceremonies are hubris-fests (which they are) but you know what? I think we'll just sit back and enjoy the nomination for the rest of the day.

Now I have to find room on our Urban Improv presents Canadian Content poster for this...

Thanks to those who nominated us. Anyone who wants to vote go to the web site above for instructions.

What happened in the woods.

Vancouver - Ian Boothby, as Ian Boothby.


Toby Berner, improv wunderkind and skateboarding child-at-heart was seen in the woods near UBC yesterday filming scenes for his upcoming Fringe ShowCANADIANN CONTENT. Details of the shoot were very hush hush, as was Berner, who was not approached for comment. Nathan Clark, also present at the shooting, had more to say, commenting, "I can't say what happened but I was there and I did witness it." Ian Boothby, long known for his ability to weave average life into a golden basket of make-believe, had this to say, "This sketch will place Urban Improv clearly across the line." When questioned as to which line, Boothby only made a series of odd noises.

Dress Rehearsal

Well, it's dress rehersal tonight. While we're trying to stay light in terms of props and costumes I'll give you an idea of what the show's like from our props list..

5 whoopie cushions
1 video projector
3 skateboards
1 ramp
1 rubber horse mask
1 devil outfit
1 Dog the Bounty Hunter outfit
1 rubber cat mask
2 guitars
1 Bono wig
1 rubber polar bear mask
1 box of Lucky Charms cereal
3 rolls of nickels

It's not exactly Our Town. Except where it's exactly like Our Town.

Monday Nights

Thanks to everyone for making the last couple of Monday night shows at the Urban Well a big hit. Hope you'll check out our Fringe show Canadian Content too, it's like the Monday show if it had a bigger budget, a video screen and took some PCP.

If you haven't been coming down to the Monday shows in the last while you've missed...

Jesus as a DJ in heaven but all he plays are 80s songs and now people are committing sins in heaven to be sent to the very popular Hell nightclub.

A blind and numb boy and deaf girl who solve mysteries or they would if either could answer the phone or the door.

The premiere of the Retarded Beachcombers.

The all white laundomat where they're only racist about colour clothing.

The Man From Glad's spree killing. On the bright side his vitims stay fresh for days.

And lots of other sketches that aren't offensive.