Students ‘Improv’ Their Minds

By Larissa Lytwyn

Imagination can be discovered in myriad ways, through books, daydreams, an evocative song, or a sudden memory.

As the members of Freestyle Repertory Theatre demonstrated during a recent visit to Newtown Middle School, the power of imagination can also be unleashed through physical improvisation.

“Our troupe has been in existence since 1983,” said professionally trained actor Laura Livingston, who co-founded the company with fellow thespian Michael Durkin.

In addition to Ms Livingston and Mr Durkin, Freestyle Repertory Theatre is comprised of actors William Cefalo and Laura Valpey.

Most recently, Shaundra Noll joined the group as the “referee.”

Freestyle Repertory Theatre is unusual because the improvisations are performed as a competition.

At their Newtown Middle School performance, entitled “TheaterSports,” Ms Livingston and Mr Cefalo wore blue T-shirts designating them the “blue” team while Mr Durkin and Ms Valpey comprised the rival “red” team.

The pairs competed in a series of improvisational situations, from eating mysterious “green stuff” in the school cafeteria to singing Italian folk songs in a pizzeria, devised by audience members.

As Ms Noll announced one student’s idea of setting a scene in the school lunchroom, the audience roared its approval.

Two students were invited to take the stage.

Mr Durkin and Ms Valpey sat in adjoining chairs, their hands hidden behind their backs.

The students, squatting behind them, stretched their arms forward, functioning as the actors’ hands and forearms.

The actors then engaged in a conversation over the mysterious “green stuff” that had been served for lunch that day.

While Mr Durkin declared how disgusting the food was, Ms Valpey, bragging about her “iron stomach,” declared the dish to be delectable.

The students laughed and applauded wildly at the scene’s rib-tickling climax, when Mr Durkin pretended to vomit.

In another scene, Mr Cefalo and Ms Livingston turned a student’s suggestion of improvising a game of Dodge Ball into an exploration of various artistic styles.

In the establishing scene, Ms Livingston hurls the imaginary rubber ball at Mr Cefalo, who crashes dramatically to the ground as he’s “hit.”

His competitive spirit ignited, he quickly jumps back up and chases Ms Livingston off stage, his pretend ball poised threateningly above his head.

Next, the two engaged in a Shakespearean version of the scene, using terms like “doth,” “thou” and “thee.”

Students chuckled as Mr Cefalo cried, “O me! Thoust violent orb didst nearly crush thee!” before crumpling to the stage.

Next, the two performed a Stephen King-inspired version of the game. Mr Cefalo did an amusing send-up of King’s The Shining, opening the scene pretend-typing while muttering aloud, “All work and no Dodge Ball makes Jack a dull boy!”

Ms Livingston approaches fearfully, crying out in pain as Mr Cefalo descends with what appears to be a boulder-sized “ball.”

In another scene, Mr Durkin pretended to be a patron of a pizzeria staffed by an effusive chef played by Ms Valpey.

Student volunteers played a key part in the improvisations.

In addition to the cafeteria piece, seventh grader Rockwell Anyoha was invited onstage while Ms Livingston and Mr Cefalo attempted to mime his “biography.”

When the actors were on-target, Rockwell would ring a bell; when they were off, he would beep a horn.

Entering the scene, Mr Cefalo declared, “I love math class!”

Rockwell blared the horn wildly, prompting laughter from his peers.

Mr Cefalo reentered, this time dragging his feet, to which Rockwell dinged the bell approvingly.

His best friend, “Sam,” played by Ms Livingston, at first offers to tutor him. Rockwell, knowing his buddy Sam well, blares the horn.

Sam becomes a comrade, and the two discuss “escaping” from the school completely.

At the suggestion of Rockwell, Ms Livingston pretends to blow up the building; both successfully escape.

“Don’t forget guys, this is all pretend!” Ms Valpey reminded students afterwards. “We don’t recommend you try [making explosives to blow up the school] at home.”

Another scene featured two students, a male and female, who, much to their embarrassment, were supposed to be in love!

The two fight but eventually forgive each other — all the action is mimed.

For the grand finale, the actors, along with two student volunteers, “rap” the story of Napoleon Dynamite, a recent teen-targeted film about the adventures of a gloriously nerdy teenaged boy.

“It was a great show!” declared student Jackie Bonadio after the group’s performance. “It was really fast-paced and well-acted.”

She said it was her first “real” introduction to improvisation.

Another student, Stephanie Villa, said she was also new to the art of improv.

“I had heard the term, but really had never experienced it first-hand before,” she said. “I really enjoyed it. The actors were all really funny and talented.”

The school’s Cultural Arts committee sponsored Freestyle Repertory Theater’s NMS appearance.

Freestyle Repertory Theater is one of several artist groups represented by Young Audiences of Connecticut.

Young Audiences of Connecticut is an arts advocacy organization dedicated to, according to its mission statement, “make the arts an integral part of the lives of children in school and community settings,” as well as “to enhance their development as creative and productive human beings.”  

For more information on Freestyle Repertory Theater or Young Audiences of Connecticut, visit www.yaconn.org.