HOW THE SHOW WORKS

EXTRA-STRENGTH performs 3 Mad Rituals, which combines three classic improv forms:

Harold, developed by Del Close, is the lingua franca for long-form improvised comedy performed around the world. EXTRA-STRENGTH opens every show with an audience suggestion of anything at all. They then construct a tightly woven 3 act story inspired by the suggestion. Each act contains 3 distinct scenes and a group scene, which are revisited during each act and ultimately converge.

Deconstruction, also developed by Del Close, explores and comments on themes, relationships and human nature. EXTRA-STRENGTH takes a suggested line of poetry from the audience and begins with a long, usually dramatic two-person scene. This scene is then deconstructed and revisited by the team through increasingly fast-paced, alternating rounds of thematic, commentary and tangential scenes, finally arriving at a complete picture of the wants, needs, flaws and relationship between the characters presented in the opening scene.

EXTRA-STRENGTH concludes with a Slacker, and takes a suggestion of a specific location that could fit on a stage, such as a train station, baseball stadium or Parisian café. Three acts introduce different characters who happen to be in the suggested location. The universe these characters inhabit is then explored and exploded through a series of scenes that lead to “the run” at the end which shows how the characters’ worlds collide.

The unique approach EXTRA-STRENGTH takes to these forms is that they all meld together to create one cohesive piece of theatre. Characters, themes and story-lines are revisited throughout, so that a character from the Harold may get his or her comeuppance during the Slacker run and a theme from the Deconstruction may inform the entire show.


Check out our handy Improviser’s Glossary for more information about the art form.