Five, four, three, two, one: a blast of the whistle and they’re off, jumping right into a scene as if it were rehearsed day after day, when in reality it’s all spur of the moment for the agents of Mission IMPROVable.
Mission IMPROVable took the stage to perform its popular improvising act to an audience of curious Clarion University students on April 2 in the Gemmell Multi Purpose Room. Many of the audience members had never seen an act like this before. Audience members were amazed as the young actors took a variety of topic suggestions and created a series of hilarious skits.
There wasn’t anything these guys wouldn’t say as they flew by the seat of their pants to create their comical skits. Using all sorts of verbally graphic humor, this show was only intended for mature viewers. The show was performed with such intensity and professionalism that it was hardly ever offensive, only amusing.
Originating in 1999 out of Boston, Mission IMPROVable is compiled of four talented actors including Frankie Cusinano, Drew Korb, Stu Rase and Adam Higgins; also known as Agent Frankie, Agent Fathead, Agent Bad Boy and Agent Espionage.
“We’ve been performing together for about one year, but the company has been around for about 10,” explained Adam Higgins, A.K.A. Agent Espionage.
Higgins went on to explain that they all became involved after doing separate auditions to start their acting careers.
Higgins also explained how the company was started by two college students named Lloyd and Aaron (no last names provided) just like them at Boston University in 1999.
“We perform at colleges all across the country, and the hardest part, despite having to maintain character and flow while creating the material as we go, is actually the driving,” Higgins said, adding, “I’d say it took about 10 performances before we were comfortable with each other and really became a team, however, we are still learning new things as we go and do our best each time to improve.”
Currently based out of Chicago and Los Angeles, the guys of Mission IMPROVable travel from college to college to perform their show for anybody who is interested.
The show involves little to no preparation as they literally make it up as they go along, taking ideas from the audience.
The Agents of Mission IMPROVable used a Mission Impossible theme for dress and style to perform their show. They gave the audience a choice of categories such as jobs, foods, objects and anything else they could think of. The agents let the crowd decide what would be used to create a series of short skits.
Then, using a few chosen categories for the skit, everyone would count down from five and at the sound of a whistle the agents would jump right into a series of jokes, impressions and original material.
Each member performed with such great intensity and flow that it was hard for the crowd to believe that the act wasn’t rehearsed, but the proof was right there in front of the audience as they decided which topics would be used.
The crowd’s attention was never lost at any point during the show. Every single student present went right along with the show laughing hysterically all the way through.
“I’ve only ever seen an act like this on TV, but I have to say it’s much more believable to see it pieced together in person,” said student Rachael Kilmer.
Students like Kilmer watched in amazement as the improv agents provided a hour of non-stop humor.
The humor could have been found a tad graphic at times, but most of the crowd watching seemed to keep an open mind as there were only smiles to be found on the faces watching the stage.
