Yawp Mag ISSUE 16: SKETCH COMEDY | Page 7

Prior to this impro was used only in theatre games and workshops. Whether or not improvisation could actually succeed as a live performance structure itself was, at that time, highly debatable. Even so, Close was mesmerised by the idea. He and the other players (including Mike Nichols, Elaine May and Shelley Berman) had discovered an entirely untapped realm of comedy performance, which they were surprised to find was growing wildly popular among audiences. While bar owners were relishing the longer show structure that allowed them to sell more drinks, the performers had found themselves on the brink of something they saw as revolutionary. It was risky, exciting and far more spontaneously funny than scripted comedy had ever allowed for. A new era in live sketch had arrived. After following Elaine May to New York several years later, purportedly to pursue their romantic relationship, Close moved to Chicago in 1960 where he would stay for most of his life. Chicago was becoming the nucleus for live comedy — in much the same way Los Angeles was the place to be for film making — and Close felt he needed to be in the centre of it. Good thing, too! From his base in Chicago, Close was responsible for training some of history's most notable American comedy actors. He had two stints directing and performing at Second City, and established the reputable company ImprovOlympic with Charna Halpern. It was here that Close developed pivotal improv techniques and structures, such as the ?e??????????????)????????????????????????)!???????????????????)??????????????????????)????????????????)??????????????????????)?????????) ????????????? ????????)??????????????????$????)???????????????????)???????????????????%?)?????????????????)??????????????????????????)?????????????????????I????)???????????????????????)???????????????????? ???)????????????????????)???????????????????????????)??????????????? ????5????)???????()?????? ??????)????????????????????)??????????????????)??????????????????)??????????????????????)?????????????????????)??????????????)????????????????)!?????????????????)???????????????????)?????????????????)????????????????)????????????????????)?????????????????????)????????????????)????????????????????)?????????????????????)Q????????????e???????)???????????????????)????????????????)?????????????????????)??????????????????????????]??????????)????????? ????????(?9????????() ?? ????5????((0