Manila Improv: Just Roll With It
Curt Mabry of Zmack (Shanghai); The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Written by
Jude Bautista
There was very much a Filipino Fiesta atmosphere, even when we were just waiting in the lobby of the PETA Theater last July 8, 2015. Different kinds of plastic utensils were formed into weird hats and headgear strung from the ceiling with giant garters. People could easily play with them, wear them and take pictures. A perfect set for improv performers or anyone for that matter. Set designer Leeroy New is the ingenious mind behind the weird plastic robot heads as well as the futuristic and versatile stage background.
Who’s (Phone) Line is it anyway? PLDT Telpad supports the Manila Improv Festival. It runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
from left: Mla Improv Festival dir Gabe Mercado & Aryn Cristobal of SPIT cheer: One chance only, only one chance! The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Out of nowhere girls were chanting: “One Chance Only! Only one chance! One Chance Only! Only one chance!” Even when we didn’t know what he hell was going on the chant was infectious especially when they’re as hot as SPIT gals: Aryn Cristobal, Happy Feraren and Chal Lontoc Del Rosario.
The Beijing Collective’s Wu You; The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
The chanting was for the simple fiesta game where gifts would be slowly lowered and a seated guest would try to grab anyone of them but can only have one attempt, hence the chant. The gifts were peanut butter from Lily’s, official Manila Improv festival notebooks, pens and so on but because of the enthusiasm the prize and activity seemed so much like a big DEAL. Grown ups were given the chance to become kids again, have that sense of wonder and play.
People actually went crazy for Lily’s Peanut Butter, Manila Improv Fest Notebooks & Dewberry Snack Bars. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
That sense of play, allowing yourself and your mind to wander at the same time be focused enough to create that’s what the 3rd International Manila Improv Festival is about. It runs at the PETA Theater Center from July 8-12, 2015. A total of 18 teams from different parts of the world and our country participated in this fun event.
from left: Kaye Ross-People’s Liberation Improv (Hong Kong), Hazel Ho-The Improv Company (Singapore) and Amy Currie-ImproMafia (Brisbane). The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
From Bacolod and Cagayan De Oro to Warsaw, Poland and Brisbane Australia, they gathered here to share their knowledge and make people howl with laughter. The Tropical Improv Camp was conducted at Siliman University in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental from July 2-5, 2015.
BACOLOD Improv Group; Photo by filmmaker and SPIT member Jay Ignacio from his fb page: https://www.facebook.com/jay.ignacio
from left: Bizworld reporter Jasmine Cruz and cousin Annika Dadiva. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Business World writer Jasmine Cruz asked one of the obvious but important questions of the night during the open forum: What do you do when you get stuck? Luke Rimmelzwaan of Impromafia responded by stuttering, “Uhhhm…eeehhh. (Hesitates to talk; the crowd laughs at him getting stuck) it’s a good question. How do you NOT get stuck in a conversation? That’s using rhetoric now. But it’s the same principle when you’re on stage. It’s about not getting scared by that and sort of leaning into it. Try to find something, there’s no right or wrong response to anything. Its whether you commit to what happens after that.”
from left: Shaunee Pilapil –Dulaang Atenista, Luke Rimmelzwaan-ImproMafia (Brisbane) and Dave Cooper-The Beijing Collective. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Luke goes on, “Early on a lot of improvisers are worried they’re not going to be funny or they’re not going to clever or not going to be smart. Thing is most people are funny and smart, its just letting yourself BE that on stage. It’s as simple as not worrying of getting stumped if you do get stumped just roll with it. And something new will come out with that and something that hasn’t happened before on stage so it’s about finding those that throw you off and going haha! Lets keep going that way! I don’t know what that is but that’s new and that’s exciting.” The ImproMafia team sent to Manila is composed of Amy Currie, Natalie Bochenski and Luke Rimmelzwaan of Brisbane, Australia.
Journalist/Performer Natalie Bochenski-ImproMafia (Brisbane). The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Zmack performs at PETA. Photo from official Zmack fb page https://www.facebook.com/zmackcomedy
‘Just roll with it’ in this sense doesn’t mean just passively going along with what happens but rather making use of it. Being able to do that as a team makes it easier and infinitely more rewarding. ZMACK based in Shanghai is a Manila Improv Fest regular by now.
Curt Mabry of Zmack (Shanghai). The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Their senior member Curt Mabry talks about teamwork in this field and why they even do it in the first place, “I think because it’s collaborative. All of us in ZMACK each one of us in these groups are talented in other ways. Maybe they’re actors or singers or stand up comics but its so much more rewarding to create something as part of a team. In ZMACK we’d like to call it a family. We have that kind of atmosphere. You see it a lot in many of these teams. One plus one equals a lot more than two. You get a lot more out of working with someone than you could working on your own. The ideas you come up with by saying yes to your partner on stage can be much more amazing and astonishing than something you could create on your own. So frankly it’s just rewarding and makes us a lot happier than other forms.”
Pirates of Tokyo Bay brings the house down. Photo by filmmaker and SPIT member Jay Ignacio from his fb page: https://www.facebook.com/jay.ignacio
from left: Curt Mabry-Zmack (Shanghai), Pawel Najgebauer-PIP Show (Warsaw) & Hazel Ho-The Improv Company (Singapore). The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Pawel Najgebauer of the PIP Show, hails from Poland. He describes how he and team mate Piotr Sikora work, “Me in my group we don’t rehearse we just talk a lot. Maybe that’s what happens in our improv we talk a lot in the end. But during our talks we go deeper and deeper and we find something that is common between us and we bond that is what’s exposed on stage basically. So whatever you do rehearsing the bonding part is most important. You find trust between the members of the team and that’s how the magic of improv starts. When you have that you can go wherever. Your partner on the stage will just catch you. That isn’t rehearsing.” This Polish duo showed how bonded they really are with an improvised guy on guy French kiss on stage. They were definitely a hard act to follow, talk about commitment to a scene.
The PIP Show can improvise nearly anything on stage Pawel Najgebauer & Piotr Sikora including a guy on guy kiss. Photo by filmmaker and SPIT member Jay Ignacio from his fb page: https://www.facebook.com/jay.ignacio
Master improviser of music Pepe Manikan. Photo by filmmaker and SPIT member Jay Ignacio from his fb page: https://www.facebook.com/jay.ignacio
Improvisation was not confined on stage. The music also has to be improvised on the fly and is provided by rock star Pepe Manikan. Pepe has gained so many fans for his inspired soundtrack not just from the audience but also from the guest performers.
from left: Mla Improv Festival dir Gabe Mercado and Christopher Coleman of People’s Liberation Improv (Hong Kong). The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Gawad Buhay Awardees from left: Myke Salomon (Outstanding Sound Design), Gabriella Pangilinan, Jay Ignacio of SPIT, Erin Locsin of One and a Half Men and Pepe Herrera (Outstanding Male Featured Performance in a Musical). Both Myke & Pepe earned their Gawad Buhay awards for RAK F AEGIS still running at the PETA Theater Center. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Participating groups include: PIP Show (Warsaw, Poland), ImproMafia (Brisbane, Australia), Pirates of Tokyo Bay (Tokyo, Japan), To Be Continued, People’s Liberation Improv, 3 Dudes Improv and Lamb Ink (Hong Kong, SAR), The Improv Company (Singapore), Taichung Improv (Taichung, Taiwan), The Beijing Collective (Beijing, China), People’s Republic of Comedy and Zmack (Shanghai, China), The Philipppines have teams: Bacolod Improv Group (Bacolod), Dulaang Atenista (Cagayan de Oro), One and a Half Men, Switch Improv and SPIT (Manila).
Jeanne Lambin of Lamb INK (Hong Kong). The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Who’s (Phone) Line is it anyway? PLDT Telpad supports the Manila Improv Festival. It runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
One and A Half Men with Impromafia. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
POSTSCRIPT:
One of the first things you notice as an audience member is the unorthodox voice over reminders before the shows. They sound like announcements in the style of the Cultural Center of the Philippines or pre flight audio before take off. There are several versions one in Filipino, Chinese, English and the one here is in gay lingo:
The Improv Company front row from left: Annie Low, Hazel Ho, Kim Tan, Yun Qing. Photo by filmmaker and SPIT member Jay Ignacio from his fb page: https://www.facebook.com/jay.ignacio
Bonggang bonggang arrival terminal sa Manila Improv festival ang stage showcase na watch niyong all tonight ay planning planning. Needs to know and needs to have ng showcase ninyong 100% attention. Partial payment participation and pasensyang kutis mo na walay eksena for you. So carry lang ba ng lumafter na lang kayo ng lumafter. Lets get loud for full support sa improvisers pag bumibilang ganoong eksena please break break the other money forever sa showcase tonight. So kung na sesense niyong mawash na kayo ma may tumbling ka na lang sa might no step yes. May audience na watch pa rin dahil winner magpigil ng kanilang antog. Ang fumone na lumej pero mawawalay ang charge sa experience niyo dahil sa walay signal FOR EYVAHHH.
from left: Earl Bracamonte, Jasmine Cruz and Noel. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Manila Improv Festival Director Gabe Mercado could not resist shooting a selfie. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Plus pag nagpa Kring kring Gonzalez yang phone na lumesh e di wow majijirits ang sure seatmate mesh. Kerry naman ng sure ng mga performers na ichorva yan sa ishowcase nila para mag green sok ka na lang kung ma imbierna sila sayo. Ang paglafes pag nomonomo at pagdadragon ay wiz na chetels sa theater. Pero look Kerry na Kerry magpicture picture, selfie selfie, video video, chuva chuva basta wig na kit flash Gordon blue. Kerry na ipost office sa mga items sa social media accounts niyo. Para ma site sa flow ng mga friend divas niyo. At magwatchnalet na rin sila ng ating face to festival. I-carry mo narin ang mga hashtags na #manila improvfest, #itsmorefuninthephilippines, Kerry? Kerre. Jumupa na at magpabongga. Kerihin ang showcase and
win a new friend diva.
The Beijing Collective’s Wu You shoots with her tablet. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
from left: John Gilbert Arceo of Bacolod Improv with Taichung Improv from left: Josh Myers and Dennis Dziedzic. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
CNN Phil Reporter Patricia Fernandez and Mla Improv Festival dir Gabe Mercado. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
SPIT Gals from left: Chal Lontok Del Rosario & Happy Feraren. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
The following is a small excerpt from SPIT’s opening night performance:
Ariel Diccion: I thought cheerleading was the same as doing gymnastics. So when I was a kid I thought I wanted to be a cheerleader, so I taught myself to do this (executes cartwheel).
Gabe Mercado: Gymnastics?
Ariel Diccion: Opo Tay.
Gabe Mercado: Gymnastics? Alam mo gymnastics yan gateway ng pagiging bakla.
Ariel Diccion: Tay sinabi niyo rin yan sa pagkuha ko ng Psychology.
John Gilbert Arceo of Bacolod Improv; The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Center in white: Mla Improv Festival dir Gabe Mercado w DULAANG ATENISTA from left: Jethro Javier, Carlo Olorvida, JC Salan, Shauna Pilapil & Matthan Luceña. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Gabe Mercado: I’m very very worried about you. You know pamilya natin pay lahi ng mga bakla.
Ariel Diccion: Kasalanan pa ba yon? Kasalanan kung si Uncle Romy bakla?
Gabe Mercado: Di lang si Uncle Romy
Ariel Diccion: Who else is gay in our family?
Gabe Mercado: Uncle Kenneth, si Aunty Miriam hindi siya. Si Aunty Miriam dating…
Missy Maramara (walks in): Yes?
Ariel Diccion: Si Uncle Mario?
Improv teams are not worthy of Mla Improv Festival Director Gabe Mercado. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Who’s (Phone) Line is it anyway? PLDT Telpad supports the Manila Improv Festival. It runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
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SWITCH Improv w Dulaang Atenista. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Utensils were reconfigured and put together to become space helmets and anything the imagination can come up with by set designer Leeroy New. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
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The Improv Company improvising the direction to SG from Manilaaah. Photo by filmmaker and SPIT member Jay Ignacio from his fb page: https://www.facebook.com/jay.ignacio
from left: Kenneth Keng of SPIT with Pirates of Tokyo Bay from left: Masa Kawahata, Mike Staffa & Rob Werley. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
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Spiky plastic head gear by set designer Leeroy New. Photo by filmmaker and SPIT member Jay Ignacio from his fb page: https://www.facebook.com/jay.ignacio
The PIP show team from left: Antoni Syrek-Dabrowski, Pawel Najgebauer, Piotr Sikora and Helen Li. They hail from Warsaw, Poland. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
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PR Extraordinaire Tita Toots Tolentino. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
SPIT from left: Happy Feraren, Aryn Cristobal, Rafael Cang & Chal Lontoc Del Rosario. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
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Who’s (Phone) Line is it anyway? PLDT Telpad supports the Manila Improv Festival. It runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Participating Improv teams from around the world. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
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Luke Rimmelzwaan of ImproMafia. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
Center: John Gilbert Arceo-Bacolod Improv, w Dulaang Atenista (Cagayan De Oro) from left: Matthan Luceña, Jethro Javier, JC Salan and Carlo Olorvida—NOT in photo is Ryan Lao. The group is from Xavier University- Ateneo de Cagayan. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
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Zmack from left: Julien Bertrand & Curt Mabry; The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
from left: Kenneth Keng-SPIT, Joelle Sarrailh and Amanda Bishop-Taichung Improv. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
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The Beijing Collective from left: Liz Ashforth, Dave Cooper and Jay Wang. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
PIP show from left: Pawel Najgebauer & Piotr Sikora. Photo by filmmaker and SPIT member Jay Ignacio from his fb page: https://www.facebook.com/jay.ignacio
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Hazel Ho and Darren Foong- The Improv Company (Singapore). The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
ZMACK musical line. Photo by filmmaker and SPIT member Jay Ignacio from his fb page: https://www.facebook.com/jay.ignacio
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Opening dance for Comedy gods by Ronnie Martinez. He also finds creative ways to scream and announce the two-minute warning to performers. The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
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Participants of the Manila Improv fest had a blast! The 3rd International Manila Improv Festival runs from July 8-12, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center. Photo by Jude Bautista.
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