For Ron

Tonight there was a going away show for Ron at CIC, he leaves this weekend for Bulgaria on a Fulbright scholarship. I wrote this for him and read it as part of the evening.

We all are here tonight to honor Dr. Ron. A sophisticated and eclectic appreciator and practitioner of the arts. A kind man. Wise, humble, and supportive. Instead of reciting a laundry list of Ron’s admirable qualities, of which there are many, or detailing my relationship with Ron, he means a great deal to me, I’d like to honor Ron’s vocation Psychology and delve a little deeper into the why of this evening. Why are we here, why was he able to engender such friendships as are displayed this evening transcending theaters, teams, generations, and that oh so dirty word cliques, why Ron.

This community that we operate within is guided by the tenant “yes and” and claims the dictum of support. This manifests itself in a lot of talk about fellowship and togetherness but the reality is much thinner. We don’t necessarily make a real effort to see each others shows, when we do we can’t help but judge. We gather a group of friends around us or join one already established and rarely do we stray socially or collaboratively. We develop loyalties, we talk shit, we exclude. With a community so broad we don’t have time to get to know everyone especially those with less talent, skill, or divergent interest. We have preferences regarding specific theaters and styles of performance which in turn dictates our social circle. We espouse support, we teach it, we preach it, but it is rarely in actuality practiced.

Enter Dr. Ron at the time Ph.D. candidate Ron. A man who loves improv. Is passionate about taking classes and learning. Who religiously attends shows, with a zeal that eclipses any of ours during our early fervent throws of improv obsession. He comes to like certain teams more than others, some of which he will grace with his weekly virtually unfaulty attendance but never does he end his quest to see everything, and, by his simple presence, support everyone. Through this unflagging desire to watch and learn, this pure appreciation for the artform of improv, and his open, magnanimous, good-natured spirit all of us and more not in attendance tonight were drawn to Ron. We, regardless of theater affiliation, age, comedic philosophy, or social faction, are glad to call him friend.

This unbridled inclusion is not granted on your average improv student. Who would typically have to prove their worth by ability or chronological endurance in order to accumulate the scope of camaraderie on display this evening. Why then was Ron able to surmount these, however justifiable, boundaries, prejudices, and restrictions. I would allege the reality is that we, the improv community, are only tacitly supportive that we merely present its veneer when what we actually are is exclusive while persuading ourselves and pretending that we aren’t. And we were drawn to Ron as the embodiment of that ideal that we espouse- inclusion, openness, and generosity.

Now I don’t believe our community can be some utopic extended family, nor should it be. We deal with art and entertainment, ultimately subjective and best left to flourish when unfettered. But there certainly is a lesson here. Ron leaves shortly for Bulgaria, he may be back in six months, he may not, we may be here when he gets back, we may have moved on ourselves. But what we can take with us forever onward is the example Ron has set for us. One of kindness, amity and grace. Of unbridled wonder for this thing we have the great fortune to get to do. Because yes this thing we do, this community, can be isolating, can be destructive. But we, through collective understanding and mutual respect, have the ability to move past entertainment into true inspiration and incite real change.