BOOK REVIEW: Truth in Comedy

(every week I'll be posting improv book reviews. as FNI is usually a starting out place for many performers, we want to showcase some helpful guides for those who want to learn how improvising really works)

Truth in Comedy is THE improv starter book, my young Padawan. If you have even an inkling for knowing more about improvisation, all the basic information you need is found in this slim, handy volume. As stated in the introduction:

"The simple, basic rules laid down in this book will result in much funnier, intelligent, and more interesting scenes. Deliberately trying to be funny or witty is a considerable drawback, and often leads to disaster. Honest responses are simpler and more effective. By the same token, making patterns and connections is much more important than making jokes."

In twelve simple chapters, Truth in Comedy lays the foundation of honesty, trust, agreement, staying in the moment, scene building, and pattern recognition that is the key to all improv comedy. Comedy in improv doesn't come from jokes (one-liners and word play) but from staying true to human relationships and the humor that comes from personal interactions. While Truth in Comedy teaches you to fly unfettered toward the unexpected, it shows that even the most bizarre scenes possible must be anchored in real emotions, wants, and needs.

Each chapter is highly organized with clear examples given to illustrate each point. Using actual improv scenes from workshops and shows, Charna Halpern fully describes the do's and don'ts allowing you to see how following the "rules" make a scene grow and how the pitfalls truly short-circuit creativity. Comedians like Mike Myers, Bill Murray, and Chris Farley are named dropped throughout, but it is the teachings and philosophy of Del Close that truly paint this book. He is man, the myth, the legend of improvisation and you will know by the end why he was dubbed co-author of this book.

You will also be introduced to the long-form improv game, "The Harold," in this volume. While you won't find the particulars of this game too useful at FNI, the lessons of support and team building used to create the Harold can certainly be transcribed to the simpler scenework seen on our stage. You might not need those last two chapters now, but don't avoid them either.

Let me put it this way: if you've bothered to take time out of your day to read an improv comedy blog, you need Truth in Comedy. Here's the Amazon link. Scared of internet demons? Just go to the college bookstore and ask them to order it. This is the first book I ever read about improv and rereading it for this review still gave me a powerful charge. Do it!