The Amazing Mime

Improv Everywhere Mission

No props.
No costumes.
No preparation.

2 Agents.
Times Square.

Agent Blumenthal and Agent Todd had 2 hours to spend together before Blumenthal’s flight back to Chapel Hill.  After meeting up in Times Square in front of WWF New York, they knew they were in the perfect place to draw a crowd for an undercover mission.  But what?  The agents were in their street clothes, had no plan of action, and possessed no props to aid their cause.  But this is Improv Everywhere, right?  We don’t need things like ‘props,’  ‘costumes,’ ‘scripts,’ or ‘game plans’.  All we need is a public space (and it doesn’t get much better than Times Square).  Using the ‘performance by request’ concept used in the Parallelogram missions, Todd and Blumenthal created The Amazing Mime mission.  What would happen if a mime (with no talent) worked by request?

Improv Everywhere Mission
“Using a soda fountain in a bagel shop”
Agent Todd assumed the role of the mime and ceased speaking.  Blumenthal became his barker and began to create a crowd.  “Alright everyone, listen up!  This guy here is an incredible mime.  He can mime anything!  Can I please have a request?  What would you like to see him mime?”

Improv Everywhere Mission
“Eating a donut”
Some things mimed by the Amazing Mime:

  • Working in a bagel shop
  • WWF Superstar, The Rock
  • The color red
  • Carson Daly of MTV’s TRL
  • NYPD officer
  • A slug
  • Michael Jackson
  • John Travolta
  • A credit card machine
  • WWF Superstar, Chris Jericho

Improv Everywhere Mission
The Amazing Mime strikes a pose.
Other highlights:

  • Blumenthal chases a woman across the street to get a request from her.
  • Crowd member remarks, “These people are idiots.”
  • By request, The Amazing Mime mimics a small child.  The child runs away in terror.
  • The Amazing Mime is handed $2.  No request for money was every made.
  • Crowd member remarks, “Two dickheads,” and walks away.

Improv Everywhere Mission
“Guys, it’s time to go.”
Unfortunately, the New York Police Department did not enjoy The Amazing Mime as much as the crowd.  3 police officers put a swift end to the show.  “If you guys aren’t out of here in three minutes, there will be twice as many officers here.”  Apparently, The Amazing Mime did not have a ‘permit’.  Mission accomplished.

Comments

  6. ^ Thats what i was wondering, how was red mimed??? I wish you vidiod it! I would have been a lot funnier if we could have seen it. And whats up with the cops never likeing what u do at inprov everywhere?? You’re never doing anything iligal! You’re just not acting like everyone else in the world dose!! WHAT HAPPENED TO FREE WILL??? ARE WE ALL SOPOSED TO ACT THE SAME NOW?? haha, I mean realy though, you cant (or shouldnt) get in trouble for not following the crowd!

    P.S. I am refering to all the times police got involed with ur missions, not just this one…

    ^.^

  7. quick thinking free spirits, you seized the moment,finger on the pulse of the world, thats naked theatre as we love it, to hell with the proscenium arch. (shoulda gave the cops the two bucks…)

  8. If only the cops had known what would happen in two days. They wouldn’t care about some mimes screwing around in Times Square. They would be setting up missile defence systems around the World Trade Center.

    Remember 9/11.

  9. Strangely enough, I had a theatre teacher at one point in time who made us do "mask training." It was supposed to train us to mimic emotions or some bullshit. He told me to be the color blue. I told him that that was ridiculous so he had another student do it. That student mimed being a crayon and then getting stepped on my some careless kid. It was pretty funny.

  11. The cops get involved a lot, don’t they? It’s sad. I think you all are great, though. Breaking the mold of uniformity and all that, awesome. To heck with routine!

    If only I lived in New York…

  12. How DID he mime the color red? Could someone explain that, please?
    (by the way, this is an awesome site)

  19. on another thought, what do those people who sit down and play their guitars for money do? Do THEY have permits?

  20. This is hilarious I’ve read all your missions. I live in TX and it’d be great if ya’ll did something down here.

  21. Did you do the rope thing where you pretend to lasso someone/something??? I can do that, if I have an assistant, that is. ;-)

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