First, try Kiki’s Chicken Place in Roseville!
It’s so good.
Second….and more improv related, I was picking up an order of Kiki’s chicken last night….but it wasn’t ready…so I had to wait about ten minutes. I left my phone in the car so I couldn’t scroll! I was alone with my thoughts. The horror. It was nice. The time didn’t fly by, but I felt more present with everything around me.
“Get to the point, Paul! How does this relate to sarcasm and improv? Is your title just clickbait lies?!”
No! I do have a point….I’m sorry I got distracted talking about waiting for my chicken.
So…when the food was ready, I went up to the counter, and the woman was very apologetic.
“I’m so sorry it took a long time,“ she began.
“That’s OK. I’m glad you guys are really busy,” I responded.
I was being sincere, the place never seems busy, so I was glad they were doing so well last night.
However, I don’t think she believed me, because she immediately responded, “I’m just so sorry.“
I realized she thought I was being sarcastic, so I tried to assure her, “No. No. I’m being serious. I didn’t mind. I’m glad you’re busy.“
As I walked out she again muttered, “Sorry.“
I was being sincere, but she read, ““sarcastic,” and the interaction didn’t flow. It felt like an awkward improv scene and the improv coach is about to look up from his seat in the audience, and say, “That’s the problem with sarcasm in improv“
And, I agree, that’s the problem with sarcasm…. especially in improv!
If you expect sarcasm, you have to doubt the words, and the authenticity of the words….everything becomes a giant game of second-guessing yourself. Do they really mean THIS or THAT?
And, we just want to understand what our team means so we can't support them. We have to circle back after every statement because we need clarity. The energy gets sucked out of the scene because everyone is scrabbling to understand and “get it right.“
It’s hard enough to create a world onstage, listen to your scene partner, and “yes, and,“….and sarcasm just adds a layer of complexity that isn’t needed.
And, consider the audience! If your scene partner has a difficult time interpreting sarcasm, and they’re 2 feet away from you onstage noticing all your subtle cues….what do you think is happening in the audience 5+ feet away? They’re noticing even LESS and perhaps even more confused.
Clarity is really important onstage. If we’re clear with our scene partner we’re offering a firm foundation to build some fun scenes. If we’re sarcastic we’re offering up a world of “maybes.” It’s not firm footing. It’s a lot more difficult to have fun in that space.
Sincerity is a great tool onstage.