On Entertainment

MONTECITO JOURNAL34 “All the good music has already been written by people with wigs and stuff.” – Frank Zappa Pam Anderson Skin Care FACIALS • WAXING MICRO-DERMABRASION OTHER SKIN CARE SERVICES AVAILABLE

2173 Ortega Hill Rd, Summerland, Ca 93067 • (805) 895–9190 pamandersonsb@gmail.com Improv for the Ages On Entertainment by Steven Libowitz Steven Libowitz has reported on the arts and entertainment for more than 30 years; he has contributed to the Montecito Journal for more than 10 years. T he current cast members of the long-running TV improv show Whose Line Is It Anyway? are bringing the touring version, dubbed “Whose Live Anyway?”, back to town for a single show at the Lobero Theatre, Sunday March 25. Cast members Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, and Joel Murray will put together a 90-minute set of comedy and song all made up on the stop and based on audience suggestions, albeit over a series of familiar “games” drawn from the TV show that got going in Great Britain, made the transatlantic leap to Hollywood, and survived a several-year hiatus to return stronger than ever on cable and streaming.

We caught up with Proops, whose tenure dates back decades, to find out why Whose Line’s improv seems to improve with age, more like a fine wine than a fireballing baseball pitcher. Q. Whose Line just keeps going and going like the Energizer Bunny. Why does it work so well? A. People just really love it. It’s not standup, so there’s no agenda. We’re all pretty energetic and still love doing it. We can be very funny when we’re on stage. It’s a little more vaudeville, which makes it easier for people to digest. They want to see you get up there and walk the tightrope. And that’s what we do. A couple of years ago in Seattle we were in great form. The best thing we can do is to be unpredictable and surprise each other. That’s when it’s the most fun.

As an improviser with only five years experience, I’ve noticed how everyone seems to have patterns and adopt favorite characters. How do you avoid that, and keep it as you said unpredictable? Or is that something you embrace? Obviously we know each other pretty well by this point. But we can mix up the order, and change out who does which games, forcing people to do things they’re not comfortable with. When Chip [Estes] left the group, I had to take over singing with Ryan. That was a bit scary, but now I’m not afraid of it anymore.

On the opposite spectrum, what do you do when you get stumped? How do you work yourself out of a sticky situation?

I try to not ever lose my rag. Sometimes I get a little weird, but I’m a firm believer of what Leonard Cohen said, “Forget your perfect universe. Cracks are where the light comes in.” I think mistakes are to be incorporated, and repeated until they become comedy. That’s what I do on my podcast, anyway. I’ll just stay on a mistake until it’s funny. It’s about yielding to the situation.

That’s the secret to life, too, isn’t it? Oh, yeah, right. At my worst, I’m stubborn, shouting and insulting, and at my best I’m able to be charming and go with the flow.

What games are you able to replicate live, and what things don’t translate at all – besides hoedown, which I know you all hate? And what gets performed live that we don’t see on TV?

“New Choice” is great, where the one of us who is directing a scene can make them stop and say something different any time he wants by saying, “New choice!” Then we have some that kill both on the show and on stage, like “Greatest Hits,” where we get an occupation from the audience and then we make up songs on the subject, or “Moving People” and “Sound Effects” where there’s lots of audience interaction, because they’re either moving us or doing all the sound effects, which is always fun. We love having them be on stage with us. You’ve known your fellow players for ages, Ryan for more than 20 years. How has your relationship changed over the years?

Ryan is a superb improviser. I’ve said it before, but it’s true: I feel like I am in a group with the Babe Ruth of improv, and I’m like Ringo. I play around a bit and then he knocks it over the fence. What he does really well is stay in a scene all the time. It doesn’t matter what the topic is – he just goes out there and be funny. The rest of us let the suggestion really influence us one way or the other, but he’s always on.

How have things been altered in general as you age?

Well, when you’re young, you have the confidence of not knowing what you’re doing, so you’re not scared. Then you know too much and it gets a little too safe. Now I know I can do it so there’s the danger of being overconfident. But really it feels like every show is a blessing, a mitzvah, and we’re lucky to be able to do it. Last night Ryan said, “You know we’re going to look back on this and remember the good times, but now, not so much,” which really made me laugh. I’m much calmer now, both on stage and as a person. I want to be poetic on stage, and I’m more confident in letting that flow and just letting the verbiage flow.

There seems to be a lot of irony in improv in that the feeling of flow when everything just seems to unfold perfectly in the moment is so wonderful, but you can’t try to make it happen, right?

Yeah, you can’t force it. It’s a matter of equi-poise – you have to trust everybody. Sometimes I’ll get something in my head and really want to say it, but then the scene might go in another direction, and you have to let it go and follow what’s happening. I try to wedge my jokes in, but it only works when it’s organic. You have to trust where it’s going and not try to stop or turn it in any direction.

How does improv show up in the rest of your life, the idea of going with the flow and letting things emerge?

It does, but I wish it was more. I wish I had the confidence in real life that I have on stage, where we’re

Sleeping Beauty’s New Awakening via SSB

Two years after the #MeToo movement called attention to sexual harassment and power dynamics – and just a month after the landmark conviction of former Hollywood powerbroker Harvey Weinstein – it would seem almost counterintuitive to produce a traditional ballet version of the classic Sleeping Beauty story. In other words, a perfect stranger kissing an unconscious woman and thereby claiming her as his own might be, shall we say, a bit beyond anachronistic, perhaps too much for modern audiences to swallow given that such behavior is not only no longer heroic, but actually an indictable act of unwanted touching.

So, when State Street Ballet decided to mount its first-ever production of the favorite fairytale featuring Tchaikovsky’s classic score, it stood to reason that a trio of female choreographers might make for a fresh take that would work in our rapidly changing culture. Enter Cecily Stewart MacDougall, Megan Philipp, and Marina Fliagina, who have collaborated on the company’s ambitious family-oriented adaptation of the ballet, not only trimming a full hour from the normal 150-minute length, but making it relevant to contemporary audiences.

“Basically, we changed it so that the message we’re sending to young girls is one of self-empowerment,” explained MacDougall, who is also the company’s education director and the creator of the Library Dances program. “Let’s face it: the idea of getting kissed by a stranger 100 years after you fall asleep doesn’t work today.” MacDougall and her fellow choreographers also wanted to modernize elements of the original ballet that was created 130 years ago, when French culture was all the rage in Russia, explaining why such characters as Little Red Riding Hood, the Bluebird, and even Cinderella show up at the wedding in the third act “because they were fairytales written by French authors,” she explained.

“Obviously it’s not as relevant in our culture today, so we have them show up in the forest earlier, where it makes sense to have such creatures,” she said. “They do their main variations while the prince is traveling through the forest on his quest to find princess Aurora.”

The whole time span takes less

SEEN (Continued from page 14) year SBCH emergency department served more than 48,000 patients and the number grows. The new emergency center will treat more than 70,000 patients a year.

Since 2005 the Tiara Ball has raised $5,771,945 to help treat thousands of children and adults who are critically ill or injured. Board chair Greg Faulkner wants you to know, “If you would like to learn more about Cottage and how your gift can make an impact, please call 805.879.8980. Donations may also be made online at www.cottagehealth.org/donate.

Women United

Little Women, a Classic Storybook Luncheon, was the theme of the Women United’s second annual luncheon at the Four Seasons Biltmore for United Way. Event chair Andria Kahmann and her “gang” looked smashing in their Victorian dresses complete with corsets. Andrea commented, “I’m so glad we don’t have to wear these anymore.”

The décor fit Louisa May Alcott’s era with mannequins in 1800s dress (she was a Civil War nurse), with blue and white table decorations in old fashioned baskets filled with flowers and books. Sprigs of lavender lay on the tables along with a journal to write your own story in. The journals were compliments from Letter Perfect.

Andria welcomed all, explaining that “Women United harnesses the power and dedication of women leaders to transform local communities. In Santa Barbara Women United advocates and supports the ongoing work of United Way of Santa Barbara County’s educational initiatives, with a focus on expanding educational opportunities for local children from pre-kindergarten through third grade.” It’s been shown that kids who aren’t reading at their level by third grade have a hard time ever catching up. Students in Kindergarten Success Institutes displayed a 68% growth in academic skills and a 69% growth in social and emotional skills. Michelle Branch was the keynote speaker. She is chair of Women United Global Leadership Council and principal and founder of Branch Law Group. Her practice provides legal services to innovative private companies, nonprofits, founders and executive management. She has taught at NYU Law School and the University of California at Berkeley. She has a plethora of degrees.

Michelle was impressed with United Way’s “Fun in the Sun” reading program. That is a summer long learning for students where 350 kids improve their academic and social skills. United for Literacy has 10,000 local students improving their reading skills in school. Imagination

With the biggest tiara Danielle Bolster, sponsor from Northern Trust

• The Voice of the Village • MONTECITO JOURNAL 35 Library has 1,200 children, ages 1 to 5 receiving a free book every month. Kindergarten Success Institutes has 250 pre-k students improving their school readiness skills by 69%. Also speaking was Melinda Cabrera, director of strategic partnerships and Casie Killgore who is principal at Franklin Elementary School. Casie was born and raised here leaving only to play basketball and major in business at Notre Dame de Namur University. When she started volunteering her weekends in Watsonville, California educating farm work children she wanted to educate the less fortunate. She was assistant principal at Peabody Charter and became principal of Franklin School at age 28. She quickly changed Franklin from one of the under achieving schools in town to one of the best. The latest award was the 2020 California Distinguished School Award.

One of the stories told was of a grandmother raising her two grandchildren and living in a car. The kids were invited to a swim camp, but she didn’t have enough to buy them a swimsuit. The Assistance League stepped up with suits for all the kids and even a towel. Two years later with help from United Way they live in a condo, grandma has a job, and all are doing well.

Women United focuses on expanding opportunities for children from pre-kindergarten through third grade. They unite to create change. They have over 80 active members and there are partnership services offered in 69 Santa Barbara County schools. Last year they initiated a backpack drive for kids who wouldn’t have any school supplies. Women United were able to provide 50 fully stocked backpacks to children at Harding Elementary School. There was joy on their faces. Teachers helped select books for kids that might not have any Christmas gifts and the ladies donated and wrapped them. For many that was all they received. Thanks to Women United, kids can dream of becoming anything they want! If you’d like to join or help, call 805.965.8591. •MJ Nichole Ipach, Helene Schneider, and Jelinda and Barry DeVorzon at the Tiara Ball

Lisa Scibird, Shari Liu, and Elisa Bartron Hills at Little Women Rhonda Stewart and costume lady extraordinaire Janine Amato at the Women United event President of Women United Rosemary Mutton, event chair Andria Kahmann, and founding president Susan Hersberger at the Little Women luncheon