Improv Violence

One of the fundamental rules in improv is avoid violence. Its stressed in classes in order to keep people safe and in control, its associated with "bad improv".  Pulling a gun in an improv scene is such a cliche bad move it was immortalized in The Office. The purpose of this rule is to one- make sure improvisers don't hurt each other by throwing actual punches which were intended to be pretend and two- there are many who believe violence in improv scenes halt the action, take the scene to a dead end.

Safety is of course important. But with some experience and very basic stage combat knowledge you can execute a serviceable punch or kick with well placed slaps, knaps, and stomps. Improvisers who know what they're doing shouldn't avoid violence after a certain point, it's a valuable tool that raises the stakes of a scene and can be visually appealing to an audience. In the matter of weapons the rule of Chekhov's gun applies i.e. if you pull a gun it should be used and when its used there should be consequences. The bad improv doesn't result from someone pulling a gun but from the gun not being used or people not reacting to it. If you pull a gun and do nothing with it the scene stagnates. If it is fired, if it is treated with some semblance of danger, the scene can soar.

Tonight during the Sight Unseen show I played a sex ed teacher with Rosie and Jimmy playing my teenage students. The scene built a bit then turned dark, me threatening Jimmy with a taser if he didn't promise to put the sensual needs of Rosie, his girlfriend, above his own, he hemmed and hawed so I tased his crotch. It got a huge reaction and an applause break.

We established an interesting scene, the message of it was basically- male-hetero-sexual-consideration- and used the threat of violence to increase tension, then the actual(pretend) violence to provide a crescendo and therefore a satisfying conclusion.

Certainly people just learning improv shouldn't start trying to kick, hit, or stab each other. At the beginning its difficult enough to navigate a simple premise. But that doesn't mean it should be outlawed. At a certain point the threat of violence and (pantomimed) violent acts can provide much needed energy and catharsis.