Iowa City No Shame 10-24-08
Announcements: Dick Roberts got published, Halloween party at Theresa's house, and Eric Jesteadt says there will be jazz stuff at The Mill. Also I think John Bates said something. Ask them for the deets.
As well as: there will not be a No Shame next week, as next Friday is Halloween. We are sorry, but we weren't expecting a big turnout as we figured people would be doing their own things on Halloween, so we'll be back on Nov. 7.
As well as: there will not be a No Shame next week, as next Friday is Halloween. We are sorry, but we weren't expecting a big turnout as we figured people would be doing their own things on Halloween, so we'll be back on Nov. 7.
Labels: Iowa City
posted by Katy Baggs at 2:16 PM
7 Comments:
1. Divine Introspection by Leigh Mather
(a conversation with streetwise accents involving God, who is called "Dicky Bird")
2. Oh Kansas, Our Kansas by Senator Stephen A. Douglas
(there is Kansas, and there is Arkansas, will either budge?)
3. The worst skit I have ever written. Ever. OR your news tonight as told by Aunt Margie by Aunt Margie and her slightly retarded and probably stoned friend named Biscuits
(News as read by above, Margie and Biscuits are related in every way)
4. True Dedication by Katy Baggs
(a character solves the hardest crossword puzzle in the world
5. Sarah Palin (Part 2): Three Questions for John Bates by Dick Roberts
(John responds to three questions, also a song is sung in country style)
6. Improv Piece by Evan Schenck
(Evan has not written anything so he makes something up, talks about drinking and the movie "Man on Fire")
7. Ultimate Lamb Fighting 2008 by Eric Jesteadt
(lambs fight and have names such as Thunderhooves and Woolly Bully)
8. Classic Sci-Fi Presented in Stereo by Zero Wing Theatre
(a sidekick is killed by a robot, further sci-fi fighting!)
9. The Whimsical Adventures of Hank the Abortionist by James S. Roth
(a not-quite-legal underground abortion practitioner turns out to be pretty freaky)
10. Expert Texpert Choking Smokers by John Bates
(improv with a panel of experts who talk about...tonsils!)
A review from an audience member.
1) This was fun. Keep it up.
2) SCRIPTS for all your actors! PLEASE!
3) Funny in places. Disturbing. A bit TOO southern though.
4) This was also fun. Katy rocks.
5) The beginning was good but the parody song was just okay.
6) Evan should just write out these stories and twist them to hilarious ends.
7) Alright. But I think casting better would've helped. Maybe put Leigh and James in audience and not awkwardly on the stage.
8) Peoples imaginations suck. A piece with laser guns and stuff doesnt work unless you have something to sell us with.
9) James. I challenge you to write shorter, cut out fluff that doesn't need to be there, and cast new actors. You'd be surprised what other actors could do for you.
10) Good. John always impresses. 2/3rds of the audience volunteers could've been stronger though.
Also. This is a general challenge to everyone. Just try casting someone other than you in your pieces. (Excluding monologues) You may find flaws in your writing or discover things that really work well. Just a though.
I always imagined God with more of a "fuck 'em, I've got better shit to do than deal with these idiots."
When the scripts aren't there and things look like they were quickly put together, they're going to look like that on stage. I think the biggest flaw of all the shows pieces is that the pieces needed to have about 30% of the fluff cut. There are juicy morsels, but the way they were, we had to gnaw through bone and tough stuff.
this doesn't go much for the improv, because it is....well, improv.
BUT this is coming from ME who has been so lazy that I have barely contributed lately, and who am I to talk? I'm horrible about including every little unfunny bit I wrote, just because I wrote it.
I'm disappointed there won't be a Halloween show. No Shame on Halloween could be a bizarre, wacky, all-around good time. Now I guess we'll never know...
In going with the 'fluff cut' idea, I think a fun show would be if we presented pieces that didn't go over too well the first time, but the writers have put faith in their friends/ the board / anyone who is in 'the know' of good scripting, to offer cut suggestions and re-writes. We could all learn a thing or two from each other and make some good pieces.
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