The Limits of Improv

"In improv you can do anything and be anyone."

I think this is a lie.

Not an intentional lie, but maybe a lie of omission.

Or better yet, it's like one of those legal forms with paragraphs and paragraphs of legalese beneath it explaining exactly why the offer is void in the states of Oregon and New Jersey.

There are people you can't be without derailing a scene.

There are things you can't do without losing the audience.

On this page, I want to explore some of those closed-off areas, and see if there's any way for the experienced improvisor to get in.

Dry Wit
You can't play a character whose sense of humor is improv-like.
Gosford Park
You can't build a situation out of seemingly disparate information.
Small, Nuanced Characters
You can't play a subtle character in improv -- that's why you never see subtle characters in improv.
Stories with Secrets
You can't discover a secret in improv, because of the nature of your relationship with the audience.
Shakespearean Prose
You can't thwart audience expectations, even when it would make for a better scene.
Sports Night
You can't talk too fast; therefore, you can't do entire genres that require talking too fast.
A Folding Chair
You can't mime anything that requires physically impossible space work.
A Serious Scene About Sex
You can't play sex any way other than wacky and pointless.
A Delayed Offer
You can't plant an offer and let it land minutes later with an explanation.
Being Strong Sad
Even when being negative is hilarious, creates a strong character, and moves the story forward... you're not supposed to be negative.

That's all I've got for now. Please, please add more.