"Which is basically how parenting works. We each play our roles, aware on some level that we are playing them. Testing each other, crashing and fixing cars and asking, fundamentally, one question: 'do you love me?'" Beautiful!!!!
Haha, yes! Kids are both the audience and the other actors. They shout out uninvited prompts at me, mostly to be a character reacting to something and then just escalating and escalating ad nauseum. I sometimes get stuck doing characters I’ve given v gravelly voices to which is painful!
A recent fave was while we were in a family restroom and they demanded I be Ice Cube’s Superfly from TMNT trying to fight them while they were on the toilet. The invisible weapons and powers they had just kept getting better and better. I (unfortunately, ultimately) had the power (requirement) to instantly revive if I was killed. Superfly was my Halloween costume this year—fairly niche, turns out!
NOT THE MAMA!!! Being child free, I don’t interact with them too often but recently visited a friend with two. His daughter, who I had just met for the first time, quickly took to me and we played a rousing game of tea time only the “tea” included a growing list of unusual [imaginary] ingredients in each round that I had to drink and then scream DISGUSTING after my sip. The round where she put her toe in the cup to give the tea an essence of “jam” got the most laughs. After reading this brilliant piece I now see that I was the insane one who craved this little girl’s riffs and her audience. My grown friends don’t give me half the attention she gave me during that 15 minute scene. I had to dig deep into my method acting reserves, so I was a little exhausted fully embodying the role of Disgusted Tea Customer AND holding onto Katie Robleski (her father, grandmother, and my husband were also captive audience members with whom I broke the 4th wall during this whole scene), but I was genuinely fulfilled and a little sad when I had to part ways. A little help here!!
One time I made a rando sock off the floor act like Miss Piggy because I was delirious and exhausted and really the Miss Piggy was me (this was a deep psychological discovery unfolding as I hammed it up), and I just ended up laughing until I cried
3. Yes, but only when I know what's wrong and can follow my car repair manual. She's 30 years old though so it's very different from these newfangled cars they got. When I can't figure out what's going on I get very frustrated and spend money fixing the wrong problems.
Imagine if your mechanic fixed the wheels first when the engine was broken! The scene would have ended!
2. My improv scenes with other adults usually feature them having no idea what's going on.
I absolutely watched Dinosaurs! And one time when my son was little, my husband and I spent more time than I’d like to admit giving his Little People names and backstories.
Not sure if this counts but reminded me of when as principal I was visiting a first grade classroom on Halloween in a sweet Franklin the Turtle costume. "Franklin the Turtle here...how's it going, kiddos?" "You're not Franklin, you're Mr. Stone!" "I'm not Mr. Stone; I'm Franklin, but I can tell Mr. Stone you said hi." "You're Mr. Stone!" [Staying in character like a pro] "Want me to tell him you said hi?" "You're Mr. Stone -- I can see your gray hair!"
Made me unpause my subscription-damn, Alex and the lot of you, I gonna go broke, am not even joking.
Ah, and not answering your questions. Answer mine first, for a change, lol.
Seriously though good essay
hahaha I'm...sorry??? wait what's your question I'll answer
it's not like you're never sorry you're sorry a lot, just not now))))
(that old email)
Fuck
I used to teach improv to kids. Kinda like teaching them to breathe, but it paid some bills.
Improv with other adults? That’s just life, innit?
I’m good. How are you? Back in Asheville yet?
#6- yes. Weirdest thing I had ever seen...
GRADE A GOOFS
2. I guess my life is improv now?
3. Yes and
"Which is basically how parenting works. We each play our roles, aware on some level that we are playing them. Testing each other, crashing and fixing cars and asking, fundamentally, one question: 'do you love me?'" Beautiful!!!!
6. You had me at "Baby Sinclair." Now that's a core memory unlocked!!
6. I loved Dinosaurs. Amazing show when I was a kid. But the way it ended... THE WAY IT ENDED, ALEX!!!1!!! You do know what happened, right?
Haha, yes! Kids are both the audience and the other actors. They shout out uninvited prompts at me, mostly to be a character reacting to something and then just escalating and escalating ad nauseum. I sometimes get stuck doing characters I’ve given v gravelly voices to which is painful!
A recent fave was while we were in a family restroom and they demanded I be Ice Cube’s Superfly from TMNT trying to fight them while they were on the toilet. The invisible weapons and powers they had just kept getting better and better. I (unfortunately, ultimately) had the power (requirement) to instantly revive if I was killed. Superfly was my Halloween costume this year—fairly niche, turns out!
"Not the mama" I used to love Dinosaurs as a kid!
NOT THE MAMA!!! Being child free, I don’t interact with them too often but recently visited a friend with two. His daughter, who I had just met for the first time, quickly took to me and we played a rousing game of tea time only the “tea” included a growing list of unusual [imaginary] ingredients in each round that I had to drink and then scream DISGUSTING after my sip. The round where she put her toe in the cup to give the tea an essence of “jam” got the most laughs. After reading this brilliant piece I now see that I was the insane one who craved this little girl’s riffs and her audience. My grown friends don’t give me half the attention she gave me during that 15 minute scene. I had to dig deep into my method acting reserves, so I was a little exhausted fully embodying the role of Disgusted Tea Customer AND holding onto Katie Robleski (her father, grandmother, and my husband were also captive audience members with whom I broke the 4th wall during this whole scene), but I was genuinely fulfilled and a little sad when I had to part ways. A little help here!!
One time I made a rando sock off the floor act like Miss Piggy because I was delirious and exhausted and really the Miss Piggy was me (this was a deep psychological discovery unfolding as I hammed it up), and I just ended up laughing until I cried
Enjoyed this. Made me think of two things:
1) My fave story as a kid was this Richard Scarry one that ends with Mr. Rabbit getting stuck and then making the same mistake AGAIN:
https://youtu.be/GAzbhG-zfIk?si=it3ZwTCKxC1TnaG4
2) Steven Wright once described his act as "a view of the world through the eyes of a child, but described in the words of an adult." Perfection.
3. Yes, but only when I know what's wrong and can follow my car repair manual. She's 30 years old though so it's very different from these newfangled cars they got. When I can't figure out what's going on I get very frustrated and spend money fixing the wrong problems.
Imagine if your mechanic fixed the wheels first when the engine was broken! The scene would have ended!
2. My improv scenes with other adults usually feature them having no idea what's going on.
I absolutely watched Dinosaurs! And one time when my son was little, my husband and I spent more time than I’d like to admit giving his Little People names and backstories.
Crushed it on the spelling of Bourgeoisie. I copied and pasted because it would've taken me too many tries.
Not sure if this counts but reminded me of when as principal I was visiting a first grade classroom on Halloween in a sweet Franklin the Turtle costume. "Franklin the Turtle here...how's it going, kiddos?" "You're not Franklin, you're Mr. Stone!" "I'm not Mr. Stone; I'm Franklin, but I can tell Mr. Stone you said hi." "You're Mr. Stone!" [Staying in character like a pro] "Want me to tell him you said hi?" "You're Mr. Stone -- I can see your gray hair!"