The Indicators, University of Louisville's irreverent improv comedy troupe, continued their reign of excellence in a show at the Red Barn on Oct. 27. Those in attendance enjoyed hearty laughs and a fun-filled time as the Indicators' zany comic energy was on full display.
The troupe was formed over a year ago by U of L theater graduate student, James Cronin, who put up fliers around the theater building, and constructed the group from those that responded. The troupe began performing at the Thrust Theater as a part of U of L's studio season in August of 2005.
"I needed to find material to fill weekends of entertainment in the Thrust Theater," said Cronin, "and I figured improv was the way to go. I love sharing laughter. I honestly believe there is nothing better at breaking down barriers and unifying a community."
Since playing shows at the Thrust as well as the Red Barn, the Indicators have gotten more popular around Louisville. They have regularly scheduled gigs at The Comedy Caravan, Bearno's by the Bridge and Diamond's Pub and Billiards. They have also played shows at the BBC on Shelbyville Road as well as 4th Street Live and Zena's.
The group consists of U of L theater students, some who have graduated have graduated and stuck around and other members were added as well.
"We just added a new member, Matt Gifford, who trained over the summer at Second City and now goes to IUS," said Cronin. "Members who have graduated from U of L have chosen to stick around Louisville for a while to see what we can make of this adventure."
An Indicators performance consists of a series of long improvisations, or "games," that are coordinated with the help of input from the audience. Cronin emcees the stage, punctuating each game by interacting with the audience. Cronin has an affable onstage presence but still sports a sharp comic wit, exemplified by a moment when an audience member fell on his face while climbing the stage to participate in a scene, and Cronin said, "Note to self: less audience participation."
As performers, the Indicators exude a great comic spontaneity and energy, but also, and probably more importantly, are well aware of when a particular scene has crashed and is in the process of burning. It is at these times when some of their funniest moments occur.
One of the performers, Ben Owens, improvised a cell phone call in the middle of a scene that was falling on its face, and said, "I'm glad you called, cause I got nothing."
"We don't always build from one show to the next," said former U of L student and Indicators performer, Neil Mulac. "Some shows we have a really great performance and we're all connected and in some shows we're very disconnected. A lot of it depends on the audience and a lot of it depends on our personal moods."
The interplay between the performers and the audience keeps the audience on its toes and firmly involved in the performance, if not always providing the best material for the performers to run with.
Most of the Indicators do a good job of taking not-so-great ideas and running with them, sometimes making them work and sometimes just finding more humor in how bad they are.
Performer, Brandon Meeks, is particularly good at this, as he is never funnier than when expressing dismay at a bad audience suggestion or playing onstage nemesis to amiable nice guy Cronin.
Scenes that weren't working never went on too long, but when an idea was working completely, the performers really shone in taking scenes in even crazier directions, such as a simulated commercial performed by Mulac and fellow performer, James Isaac, in which they promote the audience suggested product "chinchilla tanning beds" with hilarious results.
"I love theater and I've acted in as many plays as I can, but there is a tension that is relieved in doing improv," said Mulac. "It's cathartic to be able to get things out that I maybe wouldn't be able to get away with saying in every day life."
As for the Indicators' future performances, they will be playing at Bearno's by the Bridge on Sun., Nov. 12; The Comedy Caravan on Tues., Dec. 12, then back at the Red Barn on Thurs., March 8.
For more information about the Indicators, visit their Web site at http://www.indicatorsimprov.com.
Be the first to comment on this article!