Last Night @ The Playground

[kreigle]

To the guy who assaulted me onstage during an improv scene last night at the Playground.....

<O:p</O:p<O:p</O:p
While I can almost comprehend the comedic intent of what you were going for, your decision to actually hit me onstage was in poor taste. You sir, are an amateur. Try pulling that crap during an audition and see how quickly you get shunned from the Chicago improv scene.
<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p
(For those who weren't there, this guy was playing a sort of peddler of mail-order brides. I stepped up to play one of the brides, and this guy says I'd be a good one because I wouldn't talk. I confirmed that by stating yes, I would not talk. This guy pulled his hand back and actually hit me, and it was not a little playful slap. I'm talking a full-speed, head jarring blow to my face and neck. It literally caught me, and everyone else in attendance, by surprise. My neck is still sore today because of it.)

<O:p</O:p<O:p</O:p
Also, your action was not funny at all. Let me rephrase that for you in terms you might understand. An unscripted physical assault of someone onstage is not comedy, entertainment, or socially acceptable in any manner. A slow motion, improv slap would have communicated your intent just as well without everyone else thinking poorly of you, which everyone I talked to afterwards did. Nonetheless, I stayed in character after your attack, even though my first instinct was to bloody your nose.<O:p></O:p>
<O:p></O:p>
You obviously have issues to deal with, but taking your emotional baggage onstage and directing it at others is highly inappropriate. Using that forum to bring attention to yourself is pathetic. "Hey, look at me. I have the power and focus onstage now because I can hit people!"<O:p></O:p>
<O:p></O:p>
I wanted to speak with you afterwards, so I could say this to you in person, but you bolted out of the Playground so quickly, I didn't get the opportunity. Any decent human being would have offered up an apology, or at least a "no hard feelings" type of interaction. I can only imagine you were regretting what you did, which would in some cosmic way atone for your actions.<O:p></O:p>
<O:p></O:p>
Make no mistake that if our paths ever cross again and you physically assault me onstage, I will break character and retaliate, regardless of the scenario.<O:p></O:p>
<O:p></O:p>
<O:p></O:p>
So what do you think, improv community? Is it ever appropriate to assault someone (especially a stranger) onstage?

--Ken

[Tony]

No, it is not ever appropriate.

[davec]

I'm assuming this was at open court. If it was, I would say something to the people running it and hopefully that person will not be allowed to play again.

You get some creepy-ass people in improv sometimes. Mostly, they fade away quickly.

Sometimes, they become Hendo.

[Hendo]

fuck you, Dave.

[EdO]

I guess my natural reaction would have been to hit back.

You can do that without even breaking character. Just take on the persona of a mail-order bride who fucking punches people.

Who was this?

Out the bastard.

[AndyC]

At Open Court at DSIF this year a guy I was in a scene with hit me, too. Not in the uber-violent way this clearly happened, but too hard for a stage hit by a long shot. I was confused, and had a hard time continuing the scene, so props to you for staying in character. Then he hit me again a couple lines before the scene ended. I was baffled, and angry, but continued with the show and had fun.

Afterwards this d-bag approached me, and I thought he had the cajones to own up and apologize afterward. But instead he apologized for, "calling [me] out on breaking character in the scene." I goggled, unable to respond. Did he just patronizingly tell me it was okay that I broke character a little after he slapped me? Yes, he did. I said something snarky and underwhelmingly witty in response, letting a great opportunity go by to put someone in their place.

Boo on actual hitting on stage. It's like throwing a chair instead of actually acting.

[RonK]

The fact of the matter is, unless you are doing it super-slow-mo (with no chance of actualy getting hurt) you should never attempt this sort of stuff without a fight-coreographer.

[smaher78]

I'm not condoning what he did, but it's not uncommon for newer improvisors to do things like this out of fear, and not malice towards their fellow players. A very nice guy in my level three attempted to rape me in a scene and got too physical, and left me with some wicked bruises and a lowered sense of safety on stage. I was furious, I villified him, until he came up to me and apologized profusely, he didn't realize what he'd done. So we both learned a lesson the hard way. This guy has gone on to do other improv stuff, and I'm SURE has never gotten physical like that again.

It's not ok to hit, especially when you are playing with people you don't know. If you want to do stage combat take a class with your team. If your doing a pick up show DO NOT real or fake hit the other players, they don't know you.

Sarah

[Biddle]

Hi Ken,

I'm Chris Biddle. My team, International Stinger, runs Open Court with Mort. Last night, Mort, was running that particular show. If something like that happens again, please do not hesitate to go up to one of those guys afterwards and let them know how you feel. They can contact that player the next time they see him and discretely pull him aside and discuss the situation with him. 9 times out of 10, the player genuinely regrets making anyone physically uncomfortable and for them, this is a huge learning lesson.

The Open Court is a melting pot for experienced and inexperienced players. We see it as a chance for folks to have fun, meet each other and grow as performers in a venue that is not exclusively a workshop or a rehearsal. And sometimes, a new players makes a move like that, that makes us all uncomfortable. It's our job as hosts to intervene in those situations and resolve things amicably for everyone.

I agree with Sarah's comments above. He was probably a new player and his nerves got the best of him and he made a big move and he accidentally hurt someone. This happens all the time. I wouldn't worry about what he intended towards you. Likely, he's embarrassed about it, wherever he is.

I'm sorry that this happened to you. But I bet we can find an amicable solution to this, with a little face to face discussion.

Cheers,
Chris O. Biddle

[kreigle]

Thanks for the feedback and comments. It's nice to hear this is not accepted behavior. I suppose this is one of the chances you take when performing with strangers.

I don't remember the guy's name, otherwise I'd have no problem stating it here. I do recall he said that he had like 7 years of improvising experience in college, but no formal training at SC, IO, etc. I'm wondering why college took 7 years....

I'm thinking about taking a clay impression of my face and posting the guy's handprint. Maybe there's an identifying mark, like the scars left behind from years of randomly slapping people.

Disconcertingly, my neck is getting stiffer as the day goes on. Last night, I had that improv performance adrenaline rush, but today, my body is telling me the incident was worse than I had originally thought.

I do intend on contacting the Playground if noone from there responds to this thread. There may be a reason I'll need this guy's information.

--Ken

[Run]

Great. Now someone looking to make a quick buck is going to create a "stage slapping" elective at IO.

[Telfer]

Ken, stop by the Playground any night after 7pm. There are injury report forms in the box office and you should fill one out. If you want to come by tomorrow I will be there myself.

Also send an email to info@the-playground.com and ask for the contact information of the Mort people there last night.

-Dan, also a PG member

[EdO]

A very nice guy in my level three attempted to rape me in a scene and got too physical, and left me with some wicked bruises and a lowered sense of safety on stage. I was furious, I villified him, until he came up to me and apologized profusely, he didn't realize what he'd done.

What the FUCK?!?!?

You got bruises from an improv scene where a guy mock-raped you?
That's maybe the ugliest stage story I've ever heard. If I'd been on that team I would have taken him out back and beat him onto a bus back home. Good Christ.

[speedymarie]

Ken,

With problems like this, a public message board is typically not the best place to handle it, as conjecture and people's personal opinions can get in the way. Whatever happened, it's between you, this other person, and the team running the show - no one else.

Please email info@the-playground.com with a full report of what happened, and we will insure that the information gets to the right people who can work with you if needed.

Admins, can you please lock this thread? A lot of opinions and conjecture aren't really needed here, and can likely only be negative.

Thanks,
Stephanie
Playground Theater
Onsite and Rental Manager

[Landmine]

Speedy,

I don't think locking this thread is an absolute necessity. The talk has moved away from the incident of last night, to other times where improv has been less than safe, i think it is a germane topic for an improv board.

[Telfer]

I'm already emailing Prez Barbera back and forth about this and trying to get Ken on the phone with him. I don't see a need to lock or delete it right now. This isn't Law and Order: Jam Edition.

[kenziecondon]

i can't stop giggling.

[sammy]

Law and Order: Jam Edition.


But what a fun improv procedural that would be.

"Make the deal!"

"But he denied in a scene!"

"It was questionable. Make the deal."

"OK, but if he denies again it's on you..."

[Bowman]

Improvisers who resort to physical outbursts usually do so out of fear. In so doing, they create fear in the rest of the cast. As we all know, fear is the enemy of improv.

That said, I'm just thankful babies don't improvise, because I'd be tempted to shake them or depress their soft spots in every scene. (They scare me.)

[dlf]

Hello Ken
I am a member of Mort and I took part in running open court last night.

We as a team are sorry that you felt you where in an unsafe environment on any level. I did see the scene where you where slapped and by your reaction during the scene and after your show neither myself nor the other members of my team realized it how deeply it upset you.

As Chris stated we view <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://www.chicagoimprov.org/forum/ /><st1:Street w:st=<st1:address w:st=" /><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Open Court</st1:address></st1:Street> as a venue in which new improvisers and experienced players get a chance to have fun and perform together. I feel sure the individual who hit you in the scene never meant to hurt you in anyway. We will of course speak to him about the incident.

If you would like to discuss this further please do not hesitate to contact myself or anyone on Mort. Also know that we would love to have you come back to play at <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Open Court</st1:address></st1:Street> again. Generally it is a wonderful, safe, and fun place to meet new people and experience the pure joy of improv.

Dorrie Ferguson on behalf of “Mort”

[EdO]

What is a "full report" going to accomplish that a good left hook couldn't?

Admins, please lock this thread NOW, as I like to have the last word.

Ed O'Rourke
President and COE of
I Beat Cancer

[Juan]

I'm assuming this was at open court. If it was, I would say something to the people running it and hopefully that person will not be allowed to play again.

You get some creepy-ass people in improv sometimes. Mostly, they fade away quickly.

Sometimes, they become Hendo.

HAHAHA!!! THAT"S SO TRUE!!! I HOPE I NEVER END UP AS HENDO.;)

Also if somebody hit me in the face you better pray I stay down because if not nice knowing you.

[kremidas]

Hey, Peter here, I am a member of Mort and I helped host last night...

I'd just like to reiterate what Dorrie said, that the last thing we want is for open court to make anybody feel anything but completely supported. Open court is meant to be an enviornment to play freely in, and sometimes people play a little hard. We're really sorry and we hope you come back. Please please please approach us in the future if you ever have any problems.

As for the guy responsible for the slap in question, I actually improvised with him several years back in college. I know it doesn't seem like it to you right now, but he actually is a great guy, and I know he would never do anything like that if he thought it would really hurt you or make you feel uncomfortable. I think it was meant to be a playful slap but went way too far. Adrenaline and all that.

Again, please come back, we're sorry for any trouble, and let us know about any trouble you have in the future.

[Jeff Bazarko]

Ken,

I was there on Thursday night. I saw what happened. Grow some balls.
There have been many people on this thread bad mouthing this assassin, and I must admit that you are all completely overreacting. People have been calling him an amateur and a novice, saying that fear is the biggest enemy of improv . The fact of the matter is, his actions were fearless. He reacted in character as his character would without hesitation and without remorse. As I recall, there were people in the audience laughing hysterically at his actions, unlike the indifferent picture you have painted with your exaggerated words. You mentioned that "a slow motion, improv slap would have communicated your intent just as well." I am going to have to disagree. A slow motion slap would have demonstrated nothing but a gimmick and would have cheapened said intent. He instead proceeded without caution and slapped you as convincingly as he could. You should embrace such commitment.
As for the improv community that Ken has called to arms and defended his argument, you need to eat a dick. All of this talk about not letting this guy "play," and filling out forms, and letting "creepy-ass people" into the open court is ridiculous. As mentioned by our friends at The Playground, these "creepy-ass people" help pay the bills. They PAY to "play" and evidently they PAY to get ridiculed. Don't make stupid threats like "I will break character" and expect anyone to care, Ken. Truth be told, open court is a cluster fuck of broken characters anyway, so nobody would notice. Perhaps he was out of line to slap you in the face but that doesn't make it a bad "improv decision," it makes it a bad "social decision," but who cares if he offends a gigantic pussy like you who gets his neck hurt from a bitch slap anyways. This entire conversation is not about a good or bad decision on stage. It is about the fact that someone Ken didn't know made a decision that Ken didn't agree with. Had said "assaulter" been Ken's best friend this wouldn't be an issue. This isn't an "improv issue" so stop pretending like it is. Don't feel empowered because you have a bunch of people that you have befriended defending you. The fact that you got so worked up over such a small thing is mind boggling and I hope you will lighten up in the future.
All of this being said, yes, I am friends with the guy who did such an "Unforgivable Chicago Improv Act." My name is Jeff Bazarko. Perhaps they will call my name as Jeff B. the next open court. I, like said criminal, haven't taken classes at SC or IO and you can judge me all you want. I will defend this "improv decision" all day long and as for the "social decision?" Grow some balls Ken.

Love,
Jeff Bazarko

[Juan]

You know maybe the guy didn't know his own strenght and didn't mean to hurt the guy. I'm sure he feels bad from hearing from this but should give him a chance to say he's sorry. I mean sometimes you get caught up in the moment in the scenes. I actually been slap really hard in a scene and if it wasn't that I know the person I would have taken it the wrong way but hey it's your guys call. Later.

[Jyo]

This board just keeps on giving. Lets all be like a bunch of little Fonzies, and whats Fonzie like? Thats right cool.

Let me just say this. Being on stage and performing is one of the most scary things you can do, and thats why the stage should be a safe place. Thats why I think calling Ken a pussy, or guy with no balls, or dick licker, ass master, teabag kneebag, or man with a vagina ;), is unfair. Just being on that stage shows that you have major courage. I would also like to say that Jeff is doing what a friend should do and that is to stick up for his bro. We should all have friends as good as him. I mean its also unfair that whoever slapped you has to deal with having it on this board. Hope you feel better Ken, its never cool when someone gets hurt. Take one suggestion and call me in the morning.

Jyo

[EdO]

Wow, that guy must be really tough. Man, he sure sounds it. Golly!

When did Open Court start attracting such fearsome barbarians with super huge testicle sacs such as this?

If this keeps up I'm going to have to grow a Wildcat to replace my Telfer.

[EdO]

p.s. Jeff, what's your friend's name? There's no need for anonymity now that we've had all this balls talk, right?

[Admin]

Him name Bonor!

[Biddle]

Gentlemen,

This is a dead subject.

I know that Jeff feels like his friend is getting ragged on, but he's really not. The guy he smacked onstage is a little annoyed. But that's it. Everyone else is making guesses as to "the smacker's" motivation, because none of us were there and because we want Ken to know that this isn't entirely uncommon and usually it's not meant as an attack.

(Which is the same point that Jeff wanted to make to - without all the talk about who does or doesn't have any balls.)

Two members of Mort, 1 member of International Stinger and two other members of the Playground, including a member of Xcom are responding to Ken's post, in this very thread. Yesterday afternoon, Matt Barbera, the president of the PG, called me to ask what I know about it and to assure me that he was investigating it. My point is, the people who SHOULD take care of this, are.

The problem is being solved by the people who should be solving it.

Jeff's comments, while well-meaning, are only exascerbating the situation. Honestly, if I were Ken and I read that and I was already feeling annoyed by this, I'd fire back on this board and re-ignite this fight. Which does nobody any good, at all.

Everybody need to just drop it. It's not that big a fucking deal anyways. Some guy got smacked by some other guy at Open Court. Beyond those two guys, who fucking cares? It's Open Court. That's where you got to learn A.) Not to smack guys onstage and B.) Not to punch out the guy who smacks you. None of this is going on anyone's "Improv Report Card". At the end of the day, this is a fart in a high wind. Gone before you smelt it.

Let 'er go, lads.
It's being dealt with and we're all reasonably sure that everyone who should have a pair of balls, does. (Except Ed O Rourke, who tragically lost his balls to the powerhouse tag-team of Marriage and Cancer.)

Besides, it's lovely outside. Why're you in here, farting around on the computer anyways?

COB out...

[Admin]

Bonor!&nbsp;

[kreigle]

Jeff Bazarko,

I love how you manage to contradict yourself. At first you state,

"his actions were fearless. He reacted in character as his character would without hesitation and without remorse"

and then later you say,

"Perhaps he was out of line to slap you in the face "

Which way do you want to have it? Fearless and without remorse or out of line? Opposing statements like this really build credibility.

Please enlighten all of us as to when a bad social decision becomes a bad improv decision. Maybe when your "friend" improvises a rapist, you can explain to the gal he victimizes how he made a good improv decision and step up to valiantly defend his actions. Sure, it was a bad social decision, but hey woman, grow some balls. He was in character. Your logic is so warped, I can't even begin to understand it.

As for telling me to embrace such a committment, what did I do onstage? Did I break character? No, I went with it for the sake of the performance. My posting here the next day was to call the guy out on what I believe, along with 99% of the improv community, to be an inappropriate action.

Maybe the guy is truly a great guy as some folks have said. If that's the case, have him send me a PM and I'll be glad to take this offline. In the absence of me knowing anything about him, this was my only forum. And I suppose had he not hightailed out of the Playground on Thursday, we could have come to an understanding that night.

And contrary to what you posted, nobody laughed hysterically when he slapped me. There was a silent moment of <GASP>OMG, did he just do that? and then the scene continued. However, you can choose to relive it any way you'd like. I did not exaggerate the situation, nor did I mistate the facts.

If your "friend" had any balls himself, he'd post a response here defending his own actions, rather than letting someone else do it for him. And, my best friend, nor any of my friends for that matter, would never hit anyone onstage because they understand the boundaries.

So why don't you "eat a dick" you "gigantic pussy" and then "grow some balls". Whew! It felt good to echo back such well-crafted bowling-room caliber phrases. Usually one must go to a Carlos Mencia performance to hear such wisdom.

--Ken

[Landmine]

Yes Jeff Bazarco, the definition of fearless is hitting a dude when he ain't expecting it.

[Telfer]

This other guy was totally going to be dealt with in a respectful manner. People talked about how he probably made the mistake, people related to him, people in similarly shitty receiving ends of onstage violence admitted shitty things just happen sometimes.

Then his friend Jeff Bazarco kicked the door open and said "Don't talk shit about my anonymous friend you bunch of fucking pussies!!"

Thanks Jeff, the community had moved on and didn't really need a name to associate with creepy onstage antics, but you've provided one. Digging your own grave is one thing, but you totally stopped eating a healthy meal, ran outside, stole a car, and drove yourself to the cemetery to do it.

[Biddle]

I feel like I am reading posts back in The Thunderdome.

Only slower.

And not nearly as funny.

[John Sobeski]

Ken,

First I want to say that I'm sorry this whole situation got this point. I'm not going to continue this here and I would like to talk to you about this. If you can let me know the best way to get a hold of you, I'll be happy to figure this out with you.

John

[Landmine]

Hooray, the board brought two people together.

We done here.