See Page 43 For Event Information - SCN Research
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PERFORMING ARTS<br />
Laughs Unlimited<br />
Portland’s Sketch and Improv Comedy Scenes<br />
by Ted Sperling<br />
Have you ever watched Saturday Night Live and wondered why you hear the live audience erupting in<br />
laughter over even the lamest sketch? Well, it’s because live comedy is always funnier than televised<br />
farce. Stand-up, improv and sketch routines pick up a few notches on the funny meter when you’re<br />
right there sitting in the presence of the performer, crammed next to fellow laugh-seekers. And though<br />
not highly publicized, Portland is home to top-drawer live sketch and improv comedy, giving you ample<br />
opportunities to put down the remote and hit the town to get your fill of laughter.<br />
“Portland’s best improv and sketch<br />
shows are as good as anything you’d see in<br />
New York, Chicago or LA!” exclaims Phil Incorvia<br />
from the funnyBusiness improv troupe.<br />
Indeed, the sketch and improv scene is<br />
a little less conspicuous than the stand-up<br />
scene, but it is burgeoning: There are at least<br />
ten active sketch and improv troupes throughout<br />
the city, so you’ll be able to find a show<br />
nearly every weekend at small theatres like<br />
The Brody Theatre (1904 NW 27th Ave), CoHo<br />
Theatre (2257 NW Raleigh St) and Miracle<br />
Theatre (425 SE 6th Ave).<br />
But before you head out, let’s briefly go<br />
over the difference between sketch and improv<br />
comedy. A sketch comedy show is completely<br />
scripted, pre-written and rehearsed.<br />
Sometimes a sketch is written by one member<br />
independently and other times a collaboration<br />
is involved. Improv, on the other hand,<br />
is made up on the fly by the actors during the<br />
performance (à la Who’s Line Is It Anyway?).<br />
Many troupes ask the audience for suggestions<br />
for the settings and characters involved<br />
in a scene, then go to work. Good improv<br />
actors have specific training in the field, and<br />
although the show is improvised, the more<br />
they prepare the better.<br />
With all that in mind, let’s introduce the<br />
troupes:<br />
Sketch<br />
The 3rd Floor: Maximum Capacity<br />
Sketch Comedy (the3rdfloor.com)<br />
The 3rd Floor is often recognized as the<br />
preeminent Portland comedy troupe. <strong>For</strong>med<br />
ten years ago, they offer sharply written<br />
sketches, talented actors and impressive production<br />
values. Performer/director Ted Douglass<br />
points out, “The 3rd Floor has also become<br />
one of the most respected and renowned<br />
sketch comedy troupes on the national sketch<br />
festival circuit. Their reputation has become<br />
strong enough to attract the greatest sketch<br />
troupes in the country to Portland every year<br />
for ‘The Best Of The Best Sketch Fest.’” The<br />
fourth annual fest will be held August 11 & 12<br />
at Artists Repertory Theatre (1516 SW Alder St,<br />
$10 single show,$40 five shows,$66 festival<br />
pass).<br />
The Tragedies (thetragedies.com)<br />
The Tragedies are another stalwart of the<br />
Portland comedy scene, with eight performers<br />
and a staff of five others helping with production<br />
and promotion. They recently performed<br />
a hilarious, original one-act play, The Butler Did<br />
It, at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center<br />
(5340 N Interstate Ave), illustrating that they<br />
are not afraid to branch out from the standard<br />
repertoire of traditional sketch shows. “The<br />
Tragedies were born out of a need to say what<br />
38 PDXmagazine.com / August 2006
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