In improv training at the Upright Citizens Brigade, awesome teacher (and performer) Will Hines introduced my class to an exercise that is quite possibly the most enjoyable, non-gayish way to "stretch the acting muscles" (if one were forced to utilize such a term of endouchement). Titled "Give Me Back My Son," the exercise consists of the group/team standing in a circle. One person starts by approaching another person of his/her choice, staring them dead in the eyes, and delivering the line, "Give me back my son" in whichever manner they choose (although, most tend to riff on the delightfully melodramatic tone originally delivered by Mel Gibson's character in Ransom). They must continue delivering the line to others until someone - finally - cracks up, whereupon that person now must make someone else laugh.
Recently, a video surfaced on YouTube in which many players in the UCB scene are featured delivering their take on the game. And it's awesome.
Yep, this thing's like a time capsule of UCB Summer 2007. And, also, it's a lot funnier than most time capsules.
Posted by: Brett | July 23, 2007 at 12:00 PM