Hip Shot: ‘Slow News Day’
Slow News Day
The Apothecary at the Trading Post
Remaining performances:
July 15 at 9:30 .m.; July 17 at 7:45 p.m.; July 26 at 1:30 p.m.
They say: Politics? The Economy? Global Warming? Not so much. This news crew specializes in made-up stories and behind-the-scenes shennanigans. Slow News Day brings you the news as you see it—improvised based on your suggestions.
Ted’s take: Reviewing an improv show is less like critiquing theater and more like covering the Mets: You can report what happened, discuss the homers and the bobbles, &c., but there’s no guarantee that what you saw on one day will have any relation to what’ll happen the following. I say this not only because Slow News Day (structured as a triptych of on-air reports, behind-the-scenes buffoonery, and commercial interludes), is bound to vary wildly from one night to the next, but also because it’s a lot like watching the Mets—intermittently worthy, and just as uneven.
The gist: you write the headlines; anchorpeople Ryan Gillis and Pamela Nash deliver ‘em; reporter-in-the-field Min Cho reports from, um, the field; and editorial troublemaker Seaton Smith presents screeds against Maryland Drivers, cupcakes, and his own substance-abuse problems. Meanwhile, all is not lollipops and dandelions backstage, as a well-meaning but corrosive intern (J.W. Crump) accidentally torches Pam’s car, and Ashley Whitehurst does her damnedest to help co-intern Katie Dufresne snag a full-time reporting job. The producer, meanwhile, lingers in the production box, his disembodied voice hilariously mistaken, time and again, for that of God. All of the above, of course, touted as extemporaneous, original schtickage.
Here, I suspect, there’s a bit of corner-cutting going on: some of the best tropes smack of having been rehearsed, as when Gillis—gleefully, muggingly—struggles to slip his undersize jacket onto his oversize frame before the cameras go live. Gillis has a number of equally funny, and more improvisatory, triumphs, but the truest ex tempore chops reside with Crump, Dufresne, and Whitehurst, a trio known elsewhere as TV-MA. The commercials enacted by these three (today’s: prescription soup; kitten potty-training toilet seats; chocolate toothpaste) are among the show’s highlights; likewise their foible-laden camaraderie as the news show’s pissant interns.
It bears noting that this is a tremendously ambitious undertaking. Many more seasoned improvvers restrict their shows to short-form “games,” rather than attempting extended, character- and plot-based invention. Which perhaps speaks to the main difficulty here—that the cast is forced to focus more on the motivic unities than on the jokes. And the jokes, folks, should be sacrosanct.
See it if: You’ve always wished that SNL’s “Weekend Update” went on for, oh, say, an hour and change.
Skip it if: You’ve little patience for repeated quips about Maryland drivers and “drugs.”
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8:12 pm
“Many more seasoned improvvers restrict their shows to short-form “games,” rather than attempting extended, character- and plot-based invention. Which perhaps speaks to the main difficulty here—that the cast is forced to focus more on the motivic unities than on the jokes. And the jokes, folks, should be sacrosanct.”
I find this inaccurate and sort of offensive to the improvisational theatre community at large. Some of the greatest improv acts in the industry right now are scene-based, long-form shows that have been running for years in Chicago, New York, LA, and even our own D.C. If the improvisers are strong enough, it usually isn’t like reporting for the Mets, it’s more like reporting at the Olympics.
8:13 pm
And furthermore, jokes are not central to improvisation. Comedy is situational, usually, and to aim for jokes is neither entertaining or particularly fun to do.
12:33 am
For high quality long-form improv, I would highly recommend coming to see a show at Washington Improv Theater. We’re doing a 2 act musical with our iMusical show at Source July 24 & 25. We’ll also be having our annual marathon, Improvapalooza July 30-Aug 1.
12:40 am
As a member of the tech crew of “Slow News Day” I can assure you that NONE of what you saw was rehearsed. In fact at many of the rehearsals and shows I saw tremendously funny bits that I thought would be great see repeated, but this troupe’s commitment to true improv runs deep.
I myself, when first exposed to this group, thought they MUST have rehearsed, or scripted, and was and still remain truly amazed at their ability to make it up on the spot and make it look real.
Sorry you’re so jaded.
Tim Kenney
10:34 am
Wow… I find this review a little offensive as well. I have not seen the show in question but I am an improviser and have been for many years. Mr. Scheinman’s statement that “more seasoned improvvers (which by the way, is not a word) restrict their shows to short form games” is patently false! The “more seasoned” improvisers are doing long form improv on the stages of Second City, iO, WIT, and the Groundlings. Short form improv is more valuable to those who are brain dead and find the TV show Reba to be hysterical and intellectually stimulating.
11:05 am
Thanks for the comments, fellas, and let’s not be touchy, now.
Aaron: Thanks. Let me be clear: I’m not saying there’s one way that improv can or should be done. Just pointing out the daunting nature of SND’s format. If anything, I was trying to throw ‘em a bone…not to demean an entire genre!
As for “jokes”—I think we have a crisis of definition here, and I’m the one playing fast & loose. So substitute “funny moments” for “jokes” in that last graf, and you’ll get the idea. I’m not talking about punch lines, in a strict sense…just laugh-generating moments. Of which, to be fair, there coulda been more.
Tim—we’re also gonna have to disagree on this one. While I appreciate the work that you & the rest of the tech crew did (seriously: good job), I have it on good authority from a friend of the performers (!!) that at previous shows & rehearsals, at least one of the gimmicks I mention made repeat appearances. Observing as much may make me “jaded,” but, you know, it also makes me “honest.”
More generally, I just have to ask: you people were actually offended by this review? This softball review of a Fringe Fest matinee? Seriously? Lighten up, people! It’s Fringe. And it’s too how outside to get incensed about this stuff.
12:25 pm
Ted:
I think your review would’ve been met with a little less animosity if you didn’t make general assumptions about the nature of improvisational theatre (not that you meant to, but you did regardless). It’s sort of like bashing an entire genre of music, or a style of painting: as opposed to scripted theatre, which is allowed free reign with both content and style, improv is deemed the “Whose Line is it Anyway,” half-serious, and ultimately under-delivering sport that lacks the ability to compel an audience.
Again, I don’t think you were necessarily trying to do that in your review, but I guess I’m just reiterating that it came across that way. Admittedly, I have yet to see the show, but as someone in the improv community I’m on the lookout for improv shows and, simultaneously, those who would question their legitimacy.
4:17 pm
Wanted to clarify my comment a bit – it looks like I meant that 4&9 productions wasn’t high quality. They are! I have worked with these folks & respect them tremendously. I was just trying to point out one of DC’s improv theaters as a response to the idea that long form isn’t common.
So in summary: See WIT, see Slow News Day & other 4&9 productions, see DC Improv’s improv shows, and see Comedy Sportz for a variety of ambitious improv offerings.
7:40 pm
Hi Ted….
Ok, uncorroborated hearsay, i.e. “I have it on good authority from a friend of the performers (!!) that at previous shows & rehearsals, at least one of the gimmicks I mention made repeat appearances.” doesn’t wash at ALL. I’m immediately suspicious of “unnamed sources” and whatever axe they may have to grind.
I’ve been at every rehearsal and every show, and it just ain’t true! These guys have continuously amazed me at their improvisatory skills. I actually WISH they would repeat some of the gags, but they don’t.
And yes, I was very slightly soured by your review, to be honest. It seemed to be more about you and your taste, than an innovative critique. But, as they say, “to each his own taste.” My creative work comes out of a completely different industry, and my respect for improv comedy has skyrocketed as a result of being able to work with 4&9 on this project, and their sheer capacity for creativity.
But thanks for your responses, Ted. We appreciate immensely that you took the time to read our comments.
Onward!
1:02 pm
Thanks for covering improv in DC, Ted. It’s much appreciated!
Improvisors are a sensitive bunch, on the whole. We fear that our product is going to be compared to unrelated things (Whose Line, baseball teams, etc), or not taken seriously at all. So, misunderstandings aside, I thought yours was a thorough review and I was glad to see it.
A few things: As a lifelong Mets fan, your comparison hit hard. Improv can have a high level of consistency, your readers just have to see a few shows and judge for themselves whether they’re watching the 09′ Mets or the ‘27 Yankees. Yes, the nature of it lends itself to variability. Some shows will be better than others, always. That also assures that each show is new! But improv troupes rehearse regularly to work towards a consistent level of product, even though the content can vary greatly. Measuring the quality of a show by how well the actors work together, listen to each other and collectively build something funny (as you’ve done in part, above) is my idea of the proper yardstick.
Lastly, and continuing the sports analogies that I love so much, pre-scripting in improv is akin to point shaving in sports. As in; it is disgraceful and should be swiftly and severely punished. You’re not going to be able to accuse a group of such things without some backlash. It’s pretty much the worst thing you can say to an improvisor. This is because it’s pointless to do. The truth and beauty that is improv comes from the unpredictability. To script parts of the show (aside from the format of a Newsroom, etc) defeats the purpose and we might as well do sketch. (Sketch is a perfectly awesome medium, but shouldn’t be called improv, or vice versa.) Sometimes it appears this kind of thing goes on in a show, but it almost never is the case.
Improv is relatively new to DC. I’m glad it’s getting some well deserved media attention. Hope to see you later on down the trail.
9:10 am
Joe,
Thanks for the thoughtful note. I too am a lifelong Mets fan!
Which, like improv & journalism, is a labor of love.
As Tim sez: “Onward!”
2:55 pm
[...] Slow News Day [...]
10:56 am
I’ve seen this troupe perform before and been to repeat performances of the same show. The reviewer is correct, they recycle characters and jokes, and often even plan out what the plot will be, then improvise how to get there. It’s a hybrid of sketch and improv. They have some super talented players but I’m not convinced they have a deep committment to pure improvisation.
11:28 pm
Is “Slow News Day” too polished to be improvised? Do join us on Sunday the 26th at 1:30PM for our last show of this run and see for yourself.
Pamela M. Nash
Director, “Slow News Day”