Improv Class, The Boards, Thursday Evening

[furnaceface]

Another week, another improv class! As always, there were moddable pastries on the side table, along with coffee and tea. Once everyone had filtered in, Lizzie clasped her hands together and started today's lecture.

"We've used props, and costumes, and prompts from a hat," she announced. "But this week, we're using nothing but the English language. You are going to pair off and get on stage and act out a scene, with one rule: each sentence must start with a specific letter of the alphabet. Specifically, whichever letter is next."

"If I were to start the scene with something like, 'Hey, what do you want to do for dinner tonight,'" Jono elaborated, leaning back against the front of the stage with an easy sort of smile, "my partner might reply with something like, 'I don't know, since the fridge is empty.' And then in turn, I'd probably rattle off, 'Just come up with something and we'll worry about groceries later.' And so on."

... Food was an easy example for Jono to embrace, for some reason.

"Keep in mind difficult letters like J, Q, X and Z," Lizzie warned. "It might help to introduce characters named Xavier in advance, or to ask about someone's zebra a few letters early. But you'll have to be thinking on your feet, while you and your partner are playing out the scene. Don't take long pauses and breaks to come up with the perfect response: try to keep the flow going."

A quick wrinkle of his nose said volumes about Jonothon's opinions on characters named Xavier, thanks.

"On a relatively unrelated note, I'll be holding auditions here on Sunday for this season's performance of The Consequence of Being Frank. If any of you thespian types are interested, this is your warning to find a monologue to read to me then. And that's all for announcements, so pair off," he said, giving a clap of his hands, "and let's see what you come up with, hm?"

[Open to all!]

Comments

Re: The Stage!

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

"Are you really?" Karina asked with a laugh, both amused and doubtful. "This doesn't seem like the right time or place for that. I stand by my accusation because some of us don't need to cheat."

Re: The Stage!

[glacial_queen]

"If you say so," Karla said, vanishing her phone. "Is that a request to take 'X' then, my dearest Headwiga?"

Beat.

"All you had to do was ask." And they were off!

Re: The Stage!

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

Karina tried really, really hard not to notice the vanishing phone.

"Because we both know I'll manage to ace it, Footmot."

She hoped. She really hoped. 'X' was a ways down the alphabet though so she had time to think!

Re: The Stage!

[glacial_queen]

"'Course you will," Karla said, doing her best to sound patronizing. She reached out, intending to pat Karina on the head.

...That was totally part of the act, Karina! Please no biting!

Re: The Stage!

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

Not even if the biting was part of the act? No fun!

Karina stepped away, using a hand to keep Karla's from reaching her head. "Don't you dare," she said sternly, loftily.

Re: The Stage!

[glacial_queen]

Well, okay, maybe. If it were part of the act.

"Enlighten me--what will happen if I do?" And Karla reached out to pat her again.

G clearly stood for 'glutton for punishment.'

Re: The Stage!

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

Truer words had never been used in narrative.

Karina knocked her hand away a second time. "Fiery destruction; I will make you a sacrifice to the Fruit Lords," she cried.

That was a totally normal thing to threaten people with. Really.

Re: The Stage!

[glacial_queen]

Karla looked at Karina, horrified. "Great Scott--you wouldn't!" she declared.

Re: The Stage!

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

"Horrible pain is just what you deserve," Karina said dreamily, clasping her hands to her chest and looking starry-eyed.

Re: The Stage!

[glacial_queen]

"I never thought you'd sink so low!" Karla cried. "I should have, though! I never should have trusted you, Headwiga!"

The Continuing Adventures of the Star-Crossed Lovers continued apace!

Re: The Stage!

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

"Joke's on you, then!" Karina planted her hands on her hips and tossed her head back. "Just because you thought you could get away with everything... ha! Justice will be mine!"

'Vengeance' was a more appropriate word truly but shhh it didn't fit. Yet.

Re: The Stage!

[glacial_queen]

Oooh, 'k' work now! Too bad she'd just referenced Headwiga; otherwise she could have used either of their names right now. Curses!

"Karma will favor me in the end, you cruel and heartless shrew!" she said a few seconds later.

Re: The Stage!

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

She laughed. "Like I care if karma comes for me--you will be dealt with first!"

Re: The Stage!

[glacial_queen]

"Me?!" Karla scoffed. "My dear, you have no idea who you're going up again. Make your move--I dare you!"

Re: The Stage!

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

“Never forget that you did!” Karina cried, miming pulling out a gun. She stood there, in a steady, confident stance and coolly lifted the ‘gun’ up to point at Footmot. “Now pay!”

Pressing down on her trigger, Karina did indeed sink to the level of making a bang! noise just so Karla would know she’d shot.

Re: The Stage!

[glacial_queen]

"Only you would--!" Karla stopped halfway through her sentence, staggering around the stage for a few seconds before collapsing in a heap at Karina's feet. "Oh, Darkness, have mercy on me..."

Re: The Stage!

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

"Pitiful beloved." Karina sneered. "Perhaps you will understand everything better now."

Re: The Stage!

[glacial_queen]

"Quickly...everything fades..." Karla groaned from her spot on the floor. "Quietus..."

Re: The Stage!

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

Was that a spell or something? Karina didn’t know and so she… ignored it.

“Revenge is so sweet,” she crooned, kneeling down beside Karla’s head. “Really it is—given everything.”

Her voice sharpened and hardened: “Reveal your true form, demon—and tell me, where is the true Footmot?”

Was that a plot twist out of nowhere? Yes, yes it was.

Re: The Stage!

[glacial_queen]

But one that Karla could work with, since she was running out of options for dying speeches. So with a shriek of maniacal laughter, she flung herself back up, fingers crooked into claws.

"So, the little girl thinks she can take on me, the Mistress of all Evil!" Karla cackled again, then menaced Karina. "Sweet child, you really think you can survive dancing with a demon?"

Re: The Stage!

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

Karina scrambled backwards with a cry of horror and terror combined.

“Truth!” she said defiantly, despite the fact that she was trembling all over. “Try as you did to hide it—I knew the truth. Trite lines of revenge showed how hollow you were! True love always knows and I am willing to pay the cost to fight you!”

Re: The Stage!

[glacial_queen]

"Unbelievable!" Karla crowed. "U still think this is about your pathetic true love!"

And Hell yes, she was counting that U. Just try to stop her.

Re: The Stage!

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

That was so cheating. Karina gave her an incredulous look for that but bravely carried on.

“Vengeance!” she insisted. “Verily, that was what it was about!”

Re: The Stage!

[glacial_queen]

Karla was going to ignore that look like a goddamn champ.

"What? Where do you get the idea that you can possibly declare vengeance on me?" she demanded. "Whoever told you that you had a chance was lying, little girl."

Re: The Stage!

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

Oh. Crap.

They were on ‘X’ already. She was totally screwed—especially since she’d been ridiculous enough to claim that ‘X’ would be easy for her!

“Xanthe!” she cried, even though that was far too lovely a name for such a vicious, vicious demon as Karla was playing. “X-ray me then and see the proof of my determination!”

X-rays didn’t work like that. Too bad for them that Karina was pretending they could.