French youth tackle improv
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 10/00) - A bunch of fresh and youthful thespians are proving that adults aren't the only ones with the guts to stand in the spotlight.
Elise Venne, currently the librarian at Ecole Allain-St.Cyr, along with Melissa Bolduc, gathered together a group of improvisation-hungry Allain-St.Cyr students. Meanwhile over at Ecole St. Joseph, Annie Loyer did the same.
Two teams a league does make, and the students faced off on an improv rink for the first time last Monday.
In Quebec, says Venne, improv is somewhat of a national sport, just like hockey.
"There are lots of similarities to hockey," Venne says.
Penalties are awarded to players, with the offending team losing points. A student throws the puck -- one side red, one side blue -- deciding which team takes first whack at any given improv topic.
A hawk-eyed head referee, watching the play, circles the "ice," in this case a painted tarp.
Two student refs help out. At the end of a game, a star player is named for each team.
Venne, who has directed several plays in Yellowknife, also has experience improvising with adults.
Youth, she says, are way more spontaneous.
"Usually, adults are more shy. The basic difference is that youth will believe you when you say something," notes Venne.
The league intends to remain French, but hopes to add a William McDonald team soon.
They also would love to include some French-speaking high school students in the fun, but Venne acknowledges that the age group might be more difficult to involve.
The team she coaches clearly wasn't difficult to inspire.
"They practice almost every lunch time. They ask for more and more," she says, adding that they can't get enough of it.
"But we only have 30 minutes each lunch time. We try to work on specific things like on character, specific situations, emotional engagement. We always have a specific point to work. And after (Monday's game) we know more about what to work."
Venne also notes that during their first-ever game, the students themselves were excellent at criticizing themselves.
"I was really impressed."
Venne was also very impressed by audience participation, which was enthusiastic.
Audience members get to vote on which team wins each individual improv, keeping them alert and participating.
Games will take place every Monday at alternating schools.
