Davida
Saturday 5th August 2017 6:23pm
Oregon USA
502 posts
Quote: paulted @ 4th August 2017, 10:28 PM
Russell Brand?????!!! As funny as he is politically relevant. File with E.Izzard.
I think most of what most of the audience presumes is improv from Izzard is really writtem or semi-improvised.
I don't think improvisational ability or quick wit would be the main criteria for me in choosing the most talented comedians. I'd probably prioritise good writing with unique and intetesting structure and expression of unique and carefully and defrly thought-through punchlines, phrasing, cadence, pacing, tone. Also of course timing. I like it when a comedian is able to take the audience on an emotional and mental ride that turns and swerves and speeds up and stops suddenly and has peaks and valleys, and leads the audience exactly where the performer wants them to be. Someone who can make you angry, terrified, tearful, hopeful, inspired, crushed and depressed...someone emotionally impactful. I also think a lot of talent is the ability to be able to rescue the room and get everyone back on their side at the drop of a hat. And just being someone who is able to take a show and cobtinually make it better over hundreds of dates and not get burnt out to the point of going into autopilot. Improvisational skill is nice. It's just not the main marker of talent for me.
I love jazz, but I feel the same way about it. Improvisation is an amazing skill and difficult to do well, and definitelt requires talent but I'm more interested in hearing the head, the composed bits, and the dynamics and harmony and rhythm etc. I tend to zone out in the fiddly bits unless it's someone i find exceptionally interesting like e.g. eric dolphy.
Maybe what I'm bumping up against is the distinction between talent and skill. I'm not sure there is a meaningful distinction to be made there. But I guess I'd say my idea of talent is probably what most people would consider skill.