In a three-day Festival of improvisation presented by 18 groups, Impro Theater of Los Angeles created a program of three short “real” plays based on the “Twilight Zone” TV series. Subjects and locales were suggested by the audience for each play. This presentation was the Festival’s “Headliner” show; hence, its length as opposed to other groups’ 30 to 50 minute shows. As in the television shows, Impro Theatre’s were introduced by a man in a dark business suit -- in this case, Ryan Smith, with typical opening Rod-Serling-like serious patter. Each intro brought a suggested setting into the “Twilight Zone” which began with a tugboat on a stormy sea. Captain Ryan Smith forced newbie crewman Dan O’Connor to take over the steering wheel. Many a toss and turn followed. Mysterious passenger Lisa Fredrickson spent lots of time on deck, while Edi Patterson appeared off and on to be saved or almost not saved. Dan was definitely the star of the voyage, though Dan exerted control. The sound of the storm and the slashing waves made near overwhelming suspense concerning the fate of the journey. It turned out to be a test. Lighting helped transform the scene, despite occurring on a set still mainly in evidence from a regular FST play. In the second episode, each player was definitely not in any normal zone. Ryan Smith led a family of space aliens into a typically ‘50s to ’70 TV city suburb. There was more satiric humor in this episode than in the others, with Dan O’Connor as a busy baby. Fun came from food (mainly Jello) and household gadgets. Edi Patterson stood out as the oddest of the women. Liza Fredrickson complained about wanting to go home to her husband in a truly domestic comedy turn. A strange trip on a train found the women getting to know each other as fellow passengers. Patterson appeared apprehensive about where the train was going, while Fredrickson appeared calm and, in fact, quickly fell asleep. Smith as a ticket taker (maybe) got into and out of their dreams, while O’Connor as a conductor seemed to know most about the stops the train would make. This was the mystery (on the theme of friendship) in the trio of plays and a grand conclusion to the show. Madison Goff’s technical work adapted to the improvising as fast as the lightning that hit the tugboat in the first episode. Truly professional!
