THE REVIEWS

IMPROV LESSONS TEACH OPENNESS TO LIFE
May 27, 2003
By DINAH ENG
Gannett News Service

Living in the present moment is never as easy as it sounds.

All too often, we sit and talk with people while our minds are racing ahead to what we need to do after the conversation, or later in the week. A comment from someone may trigger an emotion, and instead of assessing the situation today, we react from our past experiences.

Yet it's when we are solidly in the present that real connections with others are made, truth is found, and the creative energy that we call life comes alive.

Actor Jeff Doucette and producer/director Saba Moor use improvisation to teach "Living in the Now" workshops for those who want to learn how to think on their feet, tap into their inner wisdom and listen fully to others.

"We use improv to teach about life," said Doucette, who has appeared in more than 35 films and 200 TV shows, including "JAG," "Alien Nation" and "That '70s Show." "How we approach a scene is how we live our lives. We take control of things by choosing how we think. We're not victims. We can create our own realities, which is a big responsibility.

"People have a hard time staying in the moment because they don't recognize the moment. To get in touch with what's happening in the present, just go to any one of your five senses. What are you seeing right now? What are you hearing or tasting? Doing that, and giving up control, will get you to the present moment. We cling to the past, or go the future because we can control our imagination. We don't want to challenge ourselves by doing things with an unknown outcome."

Yet it is when we explore the unknown that growth occurs, and new solutions to problems emerge. With improv, the goal is to move forward by adding information and developing a scene or game in a positive direction, says Doucette.

In life, we often get stuck with patterns of behavior that stem from past judgments, and improv exercises help to create more spontaneous responses to situations.

"When we're in the now, we become better people because the choices are coming from who we really are," said Saba Moor, who has done stand-up comedy, television, stage and film work. Improv teaches people to accept whatever comes out of another person -- through their mouth or their movements -- and make it work. So everyone learns how to work together.

"The past is always safe because it's familiar. In our workshops, we help people to step outside of that safety zone, and to quiet their inner critic. I tell people to lighten up and laugh. You can make yourself miserable if you want, but to what end?"

While the duo has taught improv for actors, their "Living in the Now" workshops are designed to help non-actors get in touch with their inner playfulness and true self-expression. Workshops are currently taught in Los Angeles, but the two are working on customizing workshops for groups nationwide.

Here are some exercises that anyone can do to practice spontaneity in the moment:
-- Start a conversation with someone at random.
-- Compliment someone you don't know.
-- When in line, talk to someone.
-- Break into song or dance.
-- Give up control of the conversation and listen.
-- Ask someone you don't know very well to join you for lunch.

While the exercises above may include things that many of us do routinely, it's always fun to stretch the boundaries of what's "normal," and see what happens.