From 7-9 p.m. every Friday, Eastern Michigan University’s “Hit By a Car Improv Troupe” gathers in the Student Center, usually in room 301, for two hours of wacky, fun and completely off-the-cuff comedy.
Erin McDonald, a third-year grad student in the Drama/Theatre for the Young program, started the troupe in early 2010.
Their name stems from a brainstorming session. According to their student org constitution, “We believe that improvisation is both a feeling of euphoria and fear, and we can only compare it to being hit by a car.”
Some of the core members of the troupe include President McDonald and Vice-President James Quesada, whom Eastern Echo readers might remember as some of the primary founders of Theo’s Comedy Night.
Together, the two try to teach the fundamentals of improv to the rest of the troupe.
“You wouldn’t think there were rules to improv, but one of the most important things to remember is to never say ‘no’ in a sketch. That stops the action dead,” said Jacob Dentel, a freshman and a key member of the troupe.
Still, it would be obvious to any observer the group is not bound strictly to any particular rules. The performers play off one another with such ease and light-heartedness it is easy for an observer to think what they are doing is simple, though that is not always the case.
“You’re not going to be funny every time,” McDonald said. “This group and this space give you an opportunity to fail. We have some activities designed to make you fail, so that you can learn to cope with not being funny every time you perform and to teach you to rely on the truth of everyday life and on your partner.”
Generally, the group likes to warm up with pantomime games. Pantomime, in its simplest form, is the art of conveying emotions, actions, feelings, etc., by gestures without speaking. These games gradually progress to speaking improvisationals, where the troupe truly shines.
Often the observers feel like they are watching a well-crafted and live sitcom, vastly different from the improv at Theo’s. Because the troupe is not performing for an audience, there are story arcs, character developments and absurd plot twists.
“The stuff we do on Fridays is different from Theo’s because we’re really able to work through a skit,” McDonald said. “If we were performing for an audience, the games would be shorter and involve more outsiders.”
“Hit By a Car” might just get its chance to perform for audiences in the near future. It has hopes of performances in this year’s AMP festival, as well as at Theo’s and at Go Comedy! in Ferndale.
The troupe would love to see more members join its group. While the troupe regulars may be performing at upcoming venues, it is not necessary to perform for audiences to join. They only ask new members enjoy the act of spontaneity.
The troupe stresses it provide a safe space for students who want to have fun, and no prior improv experience is necessary. According to their bylaws, “We will teach the basics of improv comedy, with the goal being that all members will be able to improvise a complete scene… We will not adhere to any certain philosophy of improvisation.”
“To me, it’s the theatrical medium the gives the most freedom,” Quesada said. “I feel like a kid when I’m performing. We get to go outside the conventional box and break the traditional fourth-wall.”
Students interested in joining the improv group might find the group this Friday in room 301 of the Student Center from 7-9 p.m. or visit its Facebook group page, “Hit By A Car Improv Troupe Members, Friends and Supporters,” for more information.
