| Truth in Comedy Contributor(s): Halpern, Charna (Author), Close, Del (Author), Johnson, Kim Howard (Author) |
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ISBN: 1566080037 ISBN-13: 9781566080033 Publisher: Meriwether Publishing OUR PRICE: $17.06 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: April 1994 Annotation: Who would have ever thought that learning the finer points of improvisation could be such fun? The "Harold, " an innovative improvisational tool, helped Saturday Night Live's Mike Myers and Chris Farley, George Wendt ("Norm" on Cheers) and many other actors on the road to TV and film stardom. Now it is described fully in this new book for the benefit of other would-be actors and comics. The "Harold" is a form of competitive improv involving six or seven players. They take a theme suggestion from the audience and "free associate" on the theme into a series of rapid-fire one-liners that build into totally unpredictable skits with hilarious results. The teams compete with scoring based on applause. The "Harold" is a fun way to "loosen up" and learn to think quickly, build continulty, develop characterizations and sharpen humor--all part of successful improvising. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Performing Arts | Comedy - Performing Arts | Acting & Auditioning - Performing Arts | Improvisation |
| Dewey: 792.028 |
| LCCN: 93043701 |
| Physical Information: 0.39" H x 5.52" W x 8.68" (0.51 lbs) 160 pages |
| Themes: - Theometrics - Evangelical |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Want to learn the improv techniques that helped Mike Myers, Chris Farley, John Belushi, and many others along the road to TV and film stardom? Then let two esteemed founders of long-form improvisational theatre, Del Close and Charna Halpern, teach you the "Harold." This groundbreaking acting exercise emphasizes pattern recognition and subversion of the audience's expectations, which are important factors for making people laugh without ever telling a joke. It involves six to seven players and many kinds of scenes: games, monologues, songs, skits and more, all of which are bound to keep both actors and audience members guessing. The Harold is non-linear entertainment that remembers everything and wastes nothing the key to successful improvising and has become a standard in comedy clubs and improv theatres around the globe. |