Laughing Four Days
By Jenny Burg
Where

Some Folks might assume that rapier wit in Fort Worth, if not an oxymoron, involves little more than sly references to the etymology of "cowpoke" and jokes about hair. But the city’s improvisational comedy troupe Four Day Weekend is out to change that impression.

Don’t expect Four Day style to incorporate stand-up monologue or rehearsed skits. Improvisational comedy works without a script, relying instead on audience participation to fuel the farce. Even the performers don’t know what will happen next, creating a feeling of nervous expectation that one local journalist likened to reading LaToya Jackson’s autobiography. Four Day Weekend succeeds with this format, and audiences laugh with them rather than at them.

The Four Day troupe was founded in 1996 by Frank Ford, Troy Grant, and David Wilk. These three comics honed their skills at Chicago’s famed Second City Conservatory and earned exposure (and money) doing commercials for McDonalds, Busch beer, Whataburger, and Nissan. The group’s ringleader is host David Ahearn, a comic with appearances at several Improvs and the troupe member is musical director Paul Slavens, who spices up the show with sound effects and commentary delivered in his endearing baritone. Slavens also adds original compositions to the mix – most of which he creates on the spot.

Every Friday and Saturday night, Four Day brings little more than their talent (and three chairs) to the upstairs Caravan of Dreams theater space. What chaos ensues is entirely up to the audience.

"We need a noun," Ahearn announces. An audience member responds: "Kilt!" In an instant, the Four Day players become Scotsmen, conversing with accents so heavy that they can’t understand each other after a few exchanges. Ahearn then give the players the next skit topic by reading sentences at random from the local newspaper; the audience chooses the page number. Faced with making merriment from challenging themes like "Maytag clearance sale" and "The boy is recovering at a local hospital," Four Day shines.

Ready to experience Four Day Weekend? You’ll need to purchase tickets at least a few hours in advance – that’s one thing that can’t be improvised.