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Truth in Comedy: Manual of Improvisation

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Truth in Comedy: Manual of Improvisation (Paperback)

by Mike Myers (Foreword), Charna Halpern (Author), etc. (Author), Del Close (Author), Kim Johnson (Author)

3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

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Product details

Paperback: 150 pages
Publisher: Meriwether Publishing,U.S.; 1 edition (1 Jun 1994)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1566080037
ISBN-13: 978-1566080033
Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 14 x 1 cm

Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 277,378 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in this category:
#57 in Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Performing Arts > Comedy & Stand-up

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Product Description

The 'Harold', an innovative improvisational tool, helped many actors on the road to TV and film stardom, including George Wendt (Norm on Cheers). Now it is described fully in this new book for would-be actors and comics. The 'Harold' is a form of competitive improv involving 6 or 7 players. They take a theme suggestion from the audience and 'free associate' on the theme into a series of rapid-fire one-liners that build into totally unpredictable skits with hilarious results. The 'Harold' is a fun way to 'loosen up' and learn to think quickly, build continuity, develop characterisations and sharpen humour.

About the Author

Halpern

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	59% buy the item featured on this page: Truth in Comedy: Manual of Improvisation 3.6 out of 5 stars (5) �8.18
	17% buy The Improv Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Improvising in Theatre, Comedy, and Beyond 5.0 out of 5 stars (6) �10.89
	9% buy Impro (Performance Books): Improvisation and the Theatre 4.7 out of 5 stars (13) �7.49
	8% buy Impro for Storytellers: Theatresports and the Art of Making Things Happen 5.0 out of 5 stars (2) �10.29

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Customer Reviews

5 Reviews

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

3.6 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The improv manual you're looking for, 18 Feb 1997

By A Customer

Folks, there are two kinds of improv - the annoying kind and the enjoyable kind. This book is the only description of the enjoyable kind now in print. It's simple, straightforward and funny, and may change the whole way you think about comedy and theatrical presentations. The bad kind of improv, that is, the short, "we're under great pressure to be funny here" kind that leads to some clever punch-line on which lights are blacked out, is described in numerous books. The Harold, or long-form, is where it's at, as anyone who's seen both kinds of improv will tell you. (It's a shame the form is rarely practiced outside of Chicago.) Watching it is pure pleasure, because you're seeing players who support each other perform at the top of their intelligence and creativity. And doing it, well, there's nothing like it. This book will get you started.

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10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Way of Improv, 13 Mar 2002

By A Customer

Longform improv is a bit like a spiritual practice. It's a very subtle and Zen-like process, it's so highly intuitive that it often seems psychic, it involves peak experiences of expanded awareness, and so on. It's the closest thing there is to magic (short of putting together flat-packed furniture).

This book is the only one which teaches you how to do it, because all the others are about short-form improv games. It's written by the people who created longform improv as we know it (including Del Close, who is commonly regarded as something of a Yoda in the improv world). The book oozes wisdom.

And it's not just one of the best improv manuals around, although there are some mighty fine ones (like Johnstone's Impro and Impro For Storytellers, and Viola Spolin's books). It's also a fabulous book for writing plays, sitcoms, sketches, all sorts.

Sadly, it lacks a chapter on flat-pack furniture assembly. But I did finally manage to put a chair together today. Hooray!

(Creak...)

It's comfy, too.

(Creeeak...)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A manual for a new American artform!, 2 Jul 1998

By A Customer

Truth in Comedy is, in someways, a companion piece to the Chicago-based school operated by two of the book's authors. The book conveys the sense of joy and wonder that comes from creating comic genius and order from audience chaos. Charna Halpern and Del Close both still teach "The Harold" at the ImprovOlympic school/theater and the book (if you're planning to read the book while taking a "Harold" class, add TWO more stars!) Instead of quick comedic games designed for one-liners and "jokey" schtick, Truth In Comedy teaches a form that strives for art. Based on a single audience suggestion a team of improvisers follows the outline of The Harold to create a play with interweaving plotlines and characters for intelligent and hilarious comedy (think of a completely improvised Seinfeld epsidoe, or Pulp Fiction.)

Just one more thing: The photos in the book picture some veterans of the ImprovOlympic who are now somewhat famous in Comedy. Keep a look out for Andy Ricter (Late Night With Conan O'Brien), Adam McKay (Head Writer for Saturday Night Live), Miles Stroh (creator of 'Miles to Go'), and lots of others!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Without a willing group its just an interesting read
Interesting book with plenty of tips. Unless you are in an improv group though you wont get great use from it.

Published 1 month ago by P. Cronin

1.0 out of 5 stars Truth in Comedy
Truth in comedy is badly written, badly structured, verbose and difficult to read.
Improv is a difficult subject to write about. Read more

Published 9 months ago by M. Mac Gabhann

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