Groove Cat Comedy’s 12-person improv cast took to the outdoor patio of the Three Penny Café last Wednesday, performing in casual dress as they stepped into a variety of scenes, music and personalities. And luckily for the small group of spectators, Tarken Davis — the group director for the night — fueled the show with unparallelled energy.
The Groove Cat Comedy Group is based in Staunton, Virginia. Performers meet Mondays for a two-hour class followed by an optional practice, and perform evenings twice a week. On Tuesdays, Groove Cat performs in downtown Staunton — at Downtown 27 in the Clocktower Restaurant. On Wednesdays the group takes to the Three Penny Cafe, tucked between the Corner and Downtown Mall on Main Street. The Charlottesville show is free of charge.
In Groove Cat’s brand of comedy, audience members suggest scenes, and cast members then move to create an imaginary world.
“Everything an actor says or does, called an offering or endowment, adds detail to that world," the group’s website reads.
In their performances, we see these offerings and endowments come to life. In the game "Scene, Cut, Era," performed on Wednesday, the scene was set for two men who thought they were watching an action flick but turned out to be in a romantic comedy. The two actors performed a short skit, set in the present. As Davis shouts, "Cut!" the group breaks and he asked the audience for a new era. A woman in the audience suggests the Roman era, the scene is repeated — this time as gladiators eating "popcorn stained with the blood of [their] enemies." The transition was seamless, garnering more than a few chuckles from the crowd.
The group learns its techniques largely from David Webster, an award-winning Chicago director. With Webster absent on Wednesday, Davis led the actors through the various routines, or "games," which make up short-form improv comedy, shouting encouragement from the front row.
As Davis interacted with his players, he unveiled the creativity and warmth under an initially unenthusiastic, withdrawn crowd, making the show a dynamic, fun experience for everyone involved.
Davis’ direction highlights improv's ability to teach people to live in the moment, open up possibilities with positive choices and benefit from “watching the other guy’s back” — encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved.
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