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