Last night we had the first Fools show of the year. What a FANTASTIC show. It went about an hour and 10 minutes, and the energy was really high. This was helped by having a big group of Fools (10 this year!), and our biggest crowd ever. We set up the library to use every seat in it – we can seat about 70. It was standing-room-only last night. I estimate that we had at least 80 people at the show, and we may have had as many as 90. They were a great audience – fun suggestions, quick to laugh, and lots of energy. It is much fun to play to an audience like that.

For 7 of the 10 Fools, this was their first show. I was proud of them – any nerves they had translated into energy instead of fumbling for words. Things were not perfect – there were a few “no, buts,” energy waned a little (briefly) in a couple of spots, and I waited too long to call “scene” in two games, but the show was a HUGE success.

One thing that amazed me, especially for a group with so many new members, was the “call-backs.” A call-back is when you mention something in a game that hearkens back to something from an earlier game. Call-backs are almost always funny, and show the audience that you are listening and paying attention, even when you are not on stage. There were numerous call-backs, especially toward the end of the show, and they went over big.

It really is fun to do improv, and it is REALLY fun to do improv when you have a night like last night. Good job, Fools!