"Nudge" at Open Eye Theatre

As part of their Guest Artist Series, Open Eye Theatre is hosting the long-form improv show Nudge once a month through December. I caught the show last night, before the #TCTheater season gets too busy. A small but enthusiastic crowd enjoyed one continuous story that played out in under an hour, completely made up on the spot. This talented troupe of some of our best improvisors (Tim Hellendrung, Katy Kessler, Taj Ruler, and Jen Scott performed last night, with Rita Boersma and/or Butch Roy joining them at some performances) created believable characters and situations that were funny, and awkward, and real. Since HUGE Theater closed last year, we need to go to different venues to see improv (including but not limited Strike Theater, Jungle Theater, and the Hive Collaborative), and Nudge is one that's definitely worth checking out in Open Eye's sweet intimate space in South Minneapolis. Their next show is October 20, followed by shows in November and December, with tickets just $12 in advance! Click here for all the details.

I have learned over the years that long-form improv is my favorite kind of improv. Sure, the short unrelated scenes are fun too, but I love watching improvisors create characters and relationships in a continuous story. It really is like what Nudge's tagline says, "real life, but dumb." But dumb in a very quick and clever way. This foursome took the audience suggested word of windowsill (which we all learned is one word not two - improv is educational!), and from it created an entire world. The developing story centered on a married couple (Tim and Katy) who just had a minor fire in the house, and lost a very special birdhouse tchotchke belonging to the wife's mother (Taj). Who of course arrives early, with her new 15-years-younger girlfriend (Jen) in tow. This sets up a whole lot of family drama, as the daughter's real feelings about her parents' divorce and her mother's new relationship come out. And then of course when mom finds out her birdhouse is lost, there's even more drama. It was a really funny, engaging, relatable, and wacky story.

But of course, next month it will be something complete different and new, for that night's audience only. That's the beauty of improv.