A highlight of Florida Studio Theatre’s 13th Annual “Improv Festival” was the “All Party” gathering for improvisations delivered by the first spontaneous troupes or groups to volunteer to perform them. FST’s Director of Improvisation, Will Luera, announced subjects to be improvised, okayed the order of improvisors, and even determined the time some of Almost every group who played in the Festival was represented in the improv skits, along with the solo highlighter. Troups included Parallelogramophonograph, Orange Tuxedo, Dad’s Garage, 2-Man-No-Show (from Canada), Available Cupholders, North Coast, Ripley, Alligator Alley, and HERE: The (Improvised) Musical. In addition to single MC Hammersmith, the duet 1 Man, 1 Mile represented the U.K., Big Bang, though a Boston troupe, brought in Sarasota’s Luera, who worked with BB’s Sara Burns in the “All Party,” as did Patrick Parhiala (a performer with non-present Dirty Disney). Florida alone contributed a number of performers. Improv 1-4ever and For Pete’s Sake represented Florida in cities other than Sarasota, but also with Sarasota members. SAK Comedy Club came from Orlando.
As might be expected, local groups were well represented in “After Play.” FST Improv, the troupe, led these. “Sarasota Showcase” earlier became what its name says in FST’s Goldstein Cabaret at 4 p.m.. A special “Improv Fest Family Show” had been given at 11 a.m., aimed especially to include young people. The latter did not appear late in the evening.
“After Play” had less singing than had many of the regular features, despite two good musicians having been available. The program began with a mix of hip-hop sketches. There followed what I felt the funniest section of the show, organized on the spot by Available Cupholders but employing six major other volunteers. It began with a “snippet of a play never written” that was assigned to two of the “greatest actors of all time.” After the delusional first scene, two added scenes, each done by different acting pairs, resulted in a very different play. All snippets were cleverly loaded with laughs.
A sketch with a stage full of improvisers explored a poetic topic explained by the performers, who interpreted it according to their different philosophies. They also had different talents and understanding of poetry. It was done best at its start, especially considering the size of the cast. It faded somewhat before ending.
An improv that called for using a multitude of conjunctions in telling a story showed that knowledge of real conjunctions was wanting. Some of its beginning worked well enough, though. The finale of six “After Play” improvisational presentations was a musical. The title of “Melting Butter” truly reflected the quality of the music, lyrics, and performance. As improv and not a real musical, though, it had many lilting moments.
What came after “After Play” was a midnight party with a variety of food and drink from FST’s pantry and bar. Well deserved by Festival staff and participants, who expressed hope for another FST “Improv Festival” next year.
the skits ended.
