Improv Review ...Because Improv is Art, Dammit

The Swarm, from the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater in New York have already netted themselves a four star review from Improv Review. I'm happy to say that their high quality work has continued, and they brought a thoughtful, patient show to the Chicago Improv Festival this year.

The format, if there is one, isn't very evident, so scenes move effortlessly from one scene to another. The actors are patient with their material, and their characters, fully aware that silence can give a powerful message. This was particularly noteworthy in the work of William Merritt and Micheal Delany, who opened up this evening's scenes with a piece in a prison tattoo parlor. Mr. Merritt as the tattoo artist was particularly effective, delivering his lines while concentrating on his task, taking his time between lines. His work reminds me of some of John Goodman's dramatic efforts.

The bulk of the scenes this evening centered on the prison setting. Andy Secunda created what at first glance was a throwaway character, a rather dimwitted prison denizen intent on escaping, but as the show developed, so did his character. Sean Conroy played the affable prison warden who runs his prison like a high school for delinquents, walking among the prison population without so much as a guard.

The Swarm makes good improv, takes their time, and keeps it real.

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