Stroopwafel Improv

IndyFringe: Spontaneous Tales of Science-Fiction

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This is part of IndyFringe 2022, Aug. 18-Sept. 4 (individual performance times vary) in downtown Indianapolis. Details and tickets at IndyFringe.org.

By John Lyle Belden

Stroopwafel Improv are a group that does silly strange things that make you go “ha ha” and “wha?” and “did they just say…” and more “ha ha.” And it is different at every performance.

This time around, there is an attempted theme – science fiction. However, weirdness knows no limits of time and space, so we get physical humor, odd relationships, and odder jobs, but probably on a future Earth. To aid their quest, aside from the regular audience suggestions (feel free to make it challenging) they have a performer from another Fringe show as a special guest. This person won’t be roped into an embarrassing game, but asked to give a possibly embarrassing monologue, from which ideas will be culled for the next series of comedy bits.

And be warned, even an odd throwaway reference in the opening improv game could become a bizarre recurring bit, as these folks take to it like a dog with a bone, gnawing at it in callbacks until all the humor marrow is extracted. (That sounded so weird, I won’t be shocked if it ends up in a sketch – my apologies.)

They are freewheeling with the entendres and occasional naughty word, so this is for teens and up, but do look them up, and see how truly weird and funny the future can be. Performances are Aug. 21, 26 and 27, and Sept. 3-4, in the Athenaeum.

IndyFringe: Simon Ferocious (Improvised Music Legend)

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This is part of IndyFringe 2021, Aug. 19-Sept. 5 (individual performance times vary) in downtown Indianapolis. Details and tickets at IndyFringe.org.

By John Lyle Belden

“What is ‘read the room’ in French?”

This is a line from the story of forgotten music legend Simon Ferocious that was uttered on stage, but might never be said again. This is because Simon is an etherial being, a dream within a fantasy — the product of some goofy people doing long-form improv.

Stroopwafel Improv prepares you for the story of this person (we heard David Bowie once met backstage, allegedly) with some fun little improvisation exercises. The audience doesn’t have to do much, just shout some words when asked, and this silly gang provides the weirdness. 

Then, we get to the Behind the Music episode that somehow MTV and VH-1 never got around to airing. Perhaps its because they needed you — yes you, who will go to see this on the District Theater stage — to tell the world what exactly was Simon Ferocious’ band name, or the title of his breakthrough hit.

Given only some opening audience cues, the Stroopwafels get stretched to their limits of invention, throwing in various band members, estranged family, and music “experts” to explain the rise and fall of this absurdly famous musician. As the show changes from performance to performance, all I can say is: Go see these local comics scramble to entertain you in a documentary that will be far more funny than enlightening.

“Oklahoma is the worst place for breakfast.”

Really, Simon? I bet you won’t say that at the next show.