My Improv Adventure: Come Back!

For a brief and beautiful few months, I had a breath of fresh air. A wonderful outlet to just let my feelings and personality burst forth in the most fun and creative way.

My amazing wife thinks I was born to do improv.

Maybe it’s because I’m always cracking jokes. I’m always putting together witty puns at lightning speed. Sometimes I even breakout the guitar and just whip up a fun and silly song on the spot.

Whatever it is, she’s been repeatedly pushing this notion into my mind for the entirety of our marriage.

But the opportunities were few. Or non-existent.

The Jerusalem Improv Group

So my ears perked up when I saw a fella who was hellbent on starting an English-speaking improv group right here in my home city of Jerusalem.

As is my way, I didn’t jump at the opportunity. I was hesitant. It’s hard for me to go off routine. And it’s hard for me to try new things when they’ve disappointed me so many times.

I’ve been living in Jerusalem for over eight years. The city has a lot of things going for it. There are some really nice museums and parks. Tons of great restaurants. For things related to religious life, it pretty much can’t be beat. And from an historical or archaeological perspective, it’s the center of the world. There are endless things to see and do.

But for someone who seeks adventure. Or novelty. Or loads of really interesting activities with limitless variety, Jerusalem might not be the place for you.

Fun in Kansas City

I’m always hoping to see things here that are off the beaten path. Before leaving Kansas City, I was regularly checking the different runs available. Mud runs, color runs, zombie runs, underwear runs. Everything was so fun and interesting and creative. I haven’t seen hardly any of that here. Even when they try to do something out of the box, it’s straddled right up next to the side of the box. Like a night run… where the only real difference is the time of day it happens.

Yup. Creativity, way to go!

I love novelty bars. Bars with themes. My favorite bar in Kansas City was an 80s-themed bar, with old-school arcade games, pictures of scenes from classic films from the era, and screens playing old Wrestlemania videos. It was amazing!

When Jerusalem tries for a novelty, it’s something like changing the lighting… or experimenting with being friendly to customers.

So often I’m bored, and starved for something new and exciting.

Give Improv a Chance

So I gave it a shot. I went to this improv class. My expectations were low. I wasn’t confident I’d be good at it. I was even less confident that I’d be able to eke out a word, considering I tend to get a bit nervous speaking up in groups, depending on the size.

But I was mostly not confident about the quality of the class.

I assumed, like I’ve experienced so many times before, I was just about to enter a world of dull mediocrity. If you’ve ever experienced any type of low-quality theater, it can be painful to watch. And all you’re doing from start to finish is waiting as patiently as possible for everything to end.

And then we began.

Born to be Improv

Apparently I took to the concept like I was born into a roaming improv troupe. I was confident and quick, and the fella in charge repeatedly accused me of being dishonest at my claim that I was a complete and total beginner. Sure, I made “errors”. Despite how it may feel to the uninitiated, improv is a skill like any other. There are rules to learn, and methods for improving how you perform.

But just because you study things, doesn’t mean you’ll ever be good at them. And just because you are inherently talented at something, doesn’t mean you are eager to learn.

Not only was I a natural, but I was quite eager. I was drinking in all the new information I was receiving. And growing and getting better every time I participated.

But joining a fantastic improv class, with a bunch of fun, talented people, gave me a lot more than just a new hobby, a few giggles, and a nice way to spend my Monday evenings.

It actually made my life better. And that improvement spilled over into everything I else I was doing.

Laugh Therapy

Perhaps we could call it laugh therapy. Improv doesn’t always need to be funny. But it certainly is most of the time. When a group of witty and creative people get in a room with the right guide, and just start going, something special fills the room. Something magical. And even though it works better if you don’t break character and you hold back your laughter, those “slip-ups” are half the fun. Sometimes what’s happening is just so damn hysterical, laughter is a given. It’s inevitable.

And nothing could take a complicated day or month or year or life and turn things around quicker than a good, solid, practically uncontrollable belly laugh.

So that became my Monday night activity.

I found something I loved, was pretty good at, and could use to ease the many tensions that fill my often shockingly tense life.

But then it came to an end.

Which was and is a massive bummer for me.

Farewell Improv… for Now

I know my buddy Shakespeare taught us all that “Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” But having relief from the craziness only to have that relief snatched away was profoundly rough for me. It seems to be my pattern here. I’ve had a handful of hobbies in Israel I’ve connected to, but for whatever reason, they somehow always end up disappearing for an assortment of reasons, whether it be a program I used to work for or my adventures in fostering dogs.

And now I find myself reluctant once again. Do I take a chance and see my life packed with much more fulfilling experiences? Or do I take yet another risk of a highlight in my life being ripped away from me?

All I can say is this: Improv is now a part of who I am. I am not actively practicing or attending a class, but I know it’s something I love, and something that makes my life better.

And I hope it comes back to make me smile and laugh again soon!