Improv comedy requires sharply-honed skills of observation, drama and timing; you must be instinctively funny to pull off a successful improv act. In stand-up, you can rely on cleverly written jokes. In dramatic comedy, you can fall back on funny faces or ridiculous costumes. But with improv comedy, it’s just the performer with no script or pre-written jokes. It can get ugly if there‘s no humor to help pass the time.
“Blackout,” ComedySportz’s newest late night addition, could benefit from some time-passing techniques because the troupe certainly doesn’t offer much humor. The concept of five African-American actors delivering a necessary dose of diversity to improv comedy seems like a great opportunity for clever and innovative scenes. But it never quite happens. Although the five-member cast all claim professional improvisational acting experience, they never demonstrate the quick wit or ensemble connection seen in classics like “The Hot Karl” or the recent “Pimprov.”
Opening with the requisite audience participation method, the members ask for a compound word beginning with the D and W initials of a front row patron. Dirty word is what the crowd came up with. The troupe proceeded to spew curse words in quick succession. It was neither oddly fascinating nor funny. In another bit, one of the troupe members explained his concept of personal hell, which was being with a really sexy woman and having each condom he pulls out crumble with dust. Not funny. Can you get me revisions by Friday evening? One of the last sketches featured a dance troupe that gained joy from hopping on the neck of their designated comrade and letting their testicles graze his neck. This drew hints of humor but it came too late in an excruciatingly long hour. After suffering through 45 minutes of boredom and fatigue, the physical comedy only supplied slight relief in the static show.
Maybe it was an off night. Regardless, the members of “Black Out” could improve their show by sharpening their performance with broader topics and improv exercises beyond sex and pop culture silliness. It would also help if they had a woman’s voice to offer another perspective. The whole concept behind “Blackout” is supposed to be about offering a fresh perspective but so far, the goods are stale.
Reviewed by Centerstage!
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