INTERVIEW: Colin Mochrie is ‘Scared Scriptless’
Photo: From left, Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood are ready to play New Jersey’s State Theatre. Photo courtesy of the State Theatre / Provided with permission.
Colin Mochrie, the great improv comedy actor, has been searching for that next line his entire professional life. The TV star is a longtime alumnus of Whose Line Is It Anyway? in its original American run and reboot on The CW, and he also tours North America in a live improv comedy show.
On Thursday, Oct. 4, Mochrie and Brad Sherwood bring their new tour, The Scared Scriptless Tour, to the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Audience members should expect some high-energized hijinks and hilarious improv comedy that will be a surprise even to the comedians on stage.
After having performed improv for so many years, Mochrie has come to expect the unexpected. “You don’t panic as much,” the comedian said in a recent phone interview. “We feel more confident.”
With improv comedy, there’s always the chance that a sketch won’t go swimmingly well. That’s some of the fun of taking audience suggestions and relying on one’s partner on stage. “There’s times when you walk off and say everything did work,” Mochrie said.
Working with Sherwood, both on TV and live on stage, has been a joy for Mochrie. “In the 16 years we’ve been touring, we’ve never had a disagreement,” he said. “We have the same work ethic. … And 80 percent to 90 percent of the time, where Brad is going in a scene, [is the same as me.]”
When Mochrie and Sherwood ask the audience to help out, there are some good, gut-busting suggestions; other responses are too obvious, and the comedians would prefer different prompts. For example, Mochrie said when an occupation is needed, proctologist often comes up. So, in order to keep the suggestions original, the comedy duo will ask strategic questions, like “What was your great-grandfather’s occupation?” That usually weeds out the usual responses.
Mochrie said they are also not looking for political suggestions. When President Donald Trump or the Clintons are brought up, half the crowd might be alienated, the comedian said, so they stick to the good laughs away from the drama of Washington, D.C.
COMEDY HISTORY
Mochrie, who was born in Scotland but raised in Canada, said the United States’ neighbor to the north has an impressive comedy scene at the moment. “There are a lot of great stand-ups and improvisers and writers and sketch comedians,” he said. “We’re coming into our own.”
He added: “It’s still amazing that I’m making a living out of something that wasn’t a [thing] when I was young.”
No doubt Mochrie’s fame is due in large part to Whose Line, which returned to TV screens a few years ago. The impetus for its return, the comedian said, had to do with young viewers. “The reason the show came back on The CW was kids catching it on YouTube,” he said. “I think it’s going to be timeless.”
The schedule for Whose Line and this new tour might seem like Mochrie does not have a second to spare, but much of the TV taping is done back to back over the course of two to three weekends per year. The Scared Scriptless Tour also sticks to the weekend, for the most part.
The show’s success, which also bleeds into the new tour, is because the comedians stick to the tried-and-true rules of improv comedy: listen, upset people’s original ideas and make one’s partner look good on stage.
“We have a history, and we really do enjoy each other,” Mochrie said of his Whose Line cast members, including Wayne Brady and Ryan Stiles. Of course, Drew Carey also hosted the original American run of episodes.
“It puts a focus on our one great skill,” he said. “And it became a part of pop culture.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood present The Scared Scriptless Tour Thursday, Oct. 4 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Click here for more information and tickets.
