Charna Halpern, Del Close, Kim "Howard" Johnson. Truth in Comedy: The Manual of Improvisation. Meriwether Publishing, 1994.
The manual of the Harold form and the philosophical backbone of Chicago-school longform improv. Establishes the ensemble as the star, justification as the mechanism of "no mistakes," and truth as the engine of comedy.
Key concepts originating or codified here:
- "The only star in improv is the ensemble itself" — the ensemble ethic
- "If everyone justifies everyone else's actions, there are no mistakes" — justification principle
- "The truth is funny" — authenticity over cleverness
- "One mind, many bodies" — the group mind concept
- "Treat others as if they are poets, geniuses and artists, and they will be" — the support ethic
- Support and trust as inseparable — Ch. 3 establishes this as foundational
- Agreement "to the Nth degree" — yes-and as the mechanism of trust
Referenced by atoms: be-positive, be-thankful, be-supportive, be-honest, justification, ensemble, group-mind, blocking, negation