Our Stu – improvisor and owner of a fungal infection – has realised what a famous Disney song is all about.
Well, this is rather embarrassing. How did I not know until now? Why did it take me more than 13 years to realise? It’s been right in front of my earlobes all this time and it just didn’t click! I feel like an utter fool.
Admittedly, I’m not the sharpest spoon in the knife draw but I’ve seen the Disney animated film countless times. My daughters were the perfect aged, at one and three, when Frozen first hit the cinema, followed by the DVD and then sing-along CD. I’ve driven for seven hours down the length of England’s motorways with the song on a constant, unforgiving loop.
Just whipped up
In all that time I could never work out what uptight Elsa was banging on about in the ice palace she’d just whipped up for herself. That all changed this morning whilst I was singing hard into the shower head. I was pounding out the chorus to ‘Let It Go’ and thinking about tonight’s improv drop-in, when the penny finally dropped.
I mean, what did my pathetic brain actually think the song was about? Was it written about being your authentic self and shaking off the shackles of what society expects you to be? Absolutely not!
The song is about entering an improv scene with a stunning idea ready in your brain, that you know without any shadow of a doubt will get a huge audience laugh and a round of applause, but you ‘let it go’.
Why do you ‘let it go’? You ‘let it go’ because your scene partner has initiated their idea and it needs your support. You ‘let it go’ because you’re a good listener. You ‘let it go’ because it doesn’t serve the scene you’re actually in. You ‘let it go’ because it would mean blocking your partner. You ‘let it go’ because there will be nowhere for the scene to go once you’ve said your killer punchline. You ‘let it go’ because it’s improv and it’s the right thing to do.
Yes, it’s sad to let a genius idea slip by but only for a little while. That perfect idea is the past. This is the now and one thought will crystallise in your mind like an icy blast; you’re never goin’ back, the past is in the past. Let it go. Feel one with the wind and sky.
Give up your awesome idea
There is something powerful and freeing when you just shrug, give up your awesome idea, and then go explore your scene partner’s idea instead. I know when I’m in a scene and put my ideas on ice, I feel a warm glow of satisfaction and smugness that’s hard to beat.
Do some actual improv
It’s only really in those moments that I actually feel like a professional improvisor. I know what I’m doing. I know I’m not going to crowbar my idea into this scene just because I think it’s going to make me look good. Instead, I’m going to listen and watch my scene partner intently and do some actual improv, which will make us both look fabulous.
To be honest, I don’t know why I’ve written this blog? You already know Queen Elsa was singing about improv. It’s been obvious to you all since the horrifically talented, Idina Menzel first smashed out that belting chorus. I’ve just been slow to the party.
However, I’ve always know that ‘We don’t talk about Bruno’ is definitely a Disney classic that is not about improv or societal expectations. It’s about Brian.
The Oickers 