What do dogs and improvisers have in common? It’s more than just their cuteness, their love of play, and their willingness to eat free food–whether or not it’s on the floor. Well, that last part might be different during those rare times an improviser is getting paid.
There’s an old saying in theatre about performing with kids or animals.
If you share the stage with either, you can bet the audience won’t be paying attention to you, since animals and children are unpredictable. Most performers, however, are quite predictable. That is, unless they are improvisers.
Audiences are simply more engaged by someone who is truly in the present moment. An improviser’s moves can’t necessarily be predicted. But that doesn’t mean good improv consists of only wildly unpredictable behavior. Sometimes, it’s delightful for the audience to witness an improviser reacting in the exact way they imagine themselves reacting in that moment. It also should keep improvisers from taking a poo on stage. I wouldn’t recommend that.