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“Did anyone help you?”
“My Mom,” I say quietly. I don’t really want all these people knowing I need my mommy to do my hair and makeup, and pick out my clothes. Thankfully he doesn’t ask for more details.
“Then Ethan picked you up?”
“Yup,” I say, nodding. And he took me to a hibachi grill for dinner.
Improv guy gives Ethan a high-five. “Way to go, man. That stuff ain’t cheap.”
“There was an older couple sitting next to us, who were hilarious,” Ethan adds.
“Funny old people, love it.”
“Then we came here,” I say.
“Alright, this is awesome. Thank you, Emma. Here’s what we’re going to do. Ethan, you get to play yourself. Are you cool with that?”
“Yes, absolutely,” Ethan says, rubbing his hands together.
Improv guy then assigns roles to the other troupe members to play me, Jaron, Austin, Mom, and the older couple at the restaurant.
He gives them one minute to act out my entire day. It’s hilarious to watch them rushing through it. Ethan is a natural at keeping up with the actors. Then they have to do it over again in thirty seconds. Then in fifteen seconds. Then in 5 seconds. Then they end with portraying my day in one second. It feels strange watching other people reenact my life. The actors create embellishments to add to the humor. By the end, I’m laughing so hard, I’m afraid Mom’s makeup job has turned into a runny mess.
When they finish, Improv guy holds up Ethan’s hand in triumph and tells him to take a bow. Ethan hungrily eats up the audiences’ applause. Then he has me take a bow and we are finally allowed to return to our seats.
Ethan wipes his brow and looks at me. “That was a blast!”
“I’m just glad they had you act and not me. I couldn’t have done that.”
Ethan gets that serious, Hallmark-moment look on his face again. “Are you okay? That wasn’t too embarrassing for you, was it?”
“Some parts were a little embarrassing. It’s weird telling complete strangers about intimate details of your life. But watching you guys act it out was absolutely hilarious!”
Ethan’s smile returns. We enjoy the rest of the show and I’m surprised when they announce the last game. That went by way too fast.
When it ends, we join the audience in getting to our feet and cheering for the actors onstage. Then we pick up our empty cans off the floor, and walk up the ramp and back out into the lobby. The Improv actors are all standing there, shaking hands with people and making faces alongside the patrons in their selfies.
This is another one of those moments that defines why I’ve never really liked plays. I have no desire to meet the actors. What would I say? I think after a show, they should stay backstage where they belong, while the audience sneaks out the front door. We can pretend we never saw each other and never have awkward, forced conversations. Ethan apparently has other ideas.
“Come on, let’s go say hi,” he says.
He drags me over to the actor with the microphone, the one who was running the show. “Great job,” Ethan says, thrusting his hand out.
The man takes it and grins in return. “Thank you, Ethan. Not a bad show yourself,” he says, smiling broadly at me. “I mean it, kid, you’re a natural.”
“Thanks,” Ethan says enthusiastically. “I really want to join an Improv troupe in college next year.”
The man nods his approval. “I think that’s awesome. Then you can come back here and do a show with us.” He hands Ethan his business card. Ethan takes it reverently.
“Thanks,” Ethan says.
“Thank you both for being willing to play along with us,” he says. “Good luck on your decision, Emma. But if you ask me, you’ve got a keeper right here.” He pats Ethan on the back with a loud thump.
Ethan laughs and shakes his head. “That’s what I keep trying to tell her.”
“Enjoy your night, you guys,” he says.
“Hold up,” Ethan says. “Can we get a picture of the two of us with your troupe? For my followers,” he adds.
