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Extemporaneous is a very long word.  A fourteen letter word, in fact, and what does it even mean?

ex-tem-po-ra-ne-ous: 1)  composed, performed or uttered on the spur of the moment 2) carefully prepared but delivered without notes or text 3)  skilled at or given to extemporaneous utterance 4) happening suddenly and often unexpectedly, usually without clearly known causes or relationships.  

Given that definition, there isn't a word to better represent The Extemporaneous Theatre Company (ETC). Founded by Douglas O'Neil in a bathrobe nearly two years ago, this group has been performing a mix of written word and improv since August 2008.  

The company takes its cues from Comedia dell'arte, a form of improvisational theatre that began in Italy in the 16th century.  Performances aren't scripted but based on scenarios.  All the characters know where they're going, they just have no idea how they're going to get there.  You could see the same "show" fourteen times but you'd never have the same experience.  

Thanksgiving on Trailer Park Avenue runs Thursday through Saturday at 8pm THIS WEEKEND ONLY at Birmingham Festival Theatre in Five Points.Where ETC really exceeds is in their pool of talent. The group, consisting of thirteen members, has a strong set of acting chops, ceaseless creativity and impeccable sharpness.  While watching rehearsal this past Sunday, I thought that surely some of it had to be scripted.  It was too good not to be.  It was too hysterical to be improv, too sharp to be off the cuff.  I'm not typically a laugh-out-loud, hold-my-gut type of audience member, but I was giggling uncontrollably and the majority of it was all based on the spontaneity and quickness of the actors. 

Their latest show, Thanksgiving on Trailer Park Avenue, works with a familiar, holiday scenario but with ETC's spin on it, hilarity ensues promptly at the top of the performance.  It's Thanksgiving and a colorful, not-well-educated group of characters are gathering at MeeMaw's trailer to celebrate the holiday.  The discord that follows is perpetuated by an evil landlord; an uptight, British-accented ex-businessman who lost everything he owned when the stock market plummeted.  Everything, that is, except for a lovely little trailer park that houses a gaggle of off-the-wall characters.  A grandma we can all relate to, a bizarre-looking, trailer park deputy, an androgynous, tattooed mechanic, an aspiring wrestler, a big-haired drama queen...just to name a few of the outrageous personalities.

Thanksgiving on Trailer Park Avenue runs Thursday through Saturday at 8pm THIS WEEKEND ONLY at Birmingham Festival Theatre in Five Points. Tickets are $12.75 or $9.75 for students if you purchase them online here or $15 at the door (cash or checks only).    

Expect to participate in the show by offering suggestions for the performers to use during the performance and don't be surprised if you experience some sort of explosion throughout the night.  I dare you not to laugh!  

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