#49 I am a sunbeam
Issue #49 I am a sunbeam
15th February 2023
Hey-o!
Today, I am a sunbeam.
I am racing, skipping, laughing, screaming across the skin of the world. I am pure energy, pure essence, pure art.
I am unstoppable.
I may have drunk too much caffeine.
Rule of three
[TV] Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso was my show of the year. I can't remember exactly which year, but it was definitely a plague one. Ted represents all the things I want to be as a man and as a human being. Season two didn't quite have its predecessor's magic touch, but it did set up an impactful fall from grace for one member of its uniformly excellent ensemble. Now season three is about to drop and the trailer brings back all the feelings. Believe!
[Music] Wondrous journey
Look, I know it's not cool, but I love musical theatre. If you've ever improvised the genre, you'll know of the existence of the I Want song - whereby the protagonist gets to hope for something better. Disney Studios are the masters of this kind of tune. And in this fireworks spectacular, they've combined FOUR I Want songs into a single spark-filled extravaganza - a hunchback, a demigod, a bookworm and an explorer have never sounded so good.
[Improv] Colin Mochrie
Obviously, Colin Mochrie is an improv legend. I really enjoyed this interview where he throws shade at Dan Patterson, roasts the hoedown and even finds time to name-drop Neil Curran.
Spotlight
I'm coaching dance-improv duo The Raving Jaynes at the moment, and it's been such a rare pleasure to collaborate on their new show. I'm learning so much about dance, movement, abstraction and how two artistic mediums converse and interpolate. Follow them on social media, invite them to your festivals and, if you're in New York City, go and see them in action.
Longform thoughts
I started to think of plot as a monster - an all-consuming beast that demanded to be fed, that would consume all joy and subtlety and fun. Our improv freedom sacrificed to it on the altar of logical storytelling.
Read about my journey with narrative improv in Beware the plot monster.
Radio days
Little smiler.