What Del Close Said About Playing To the Top of Your Intelligence
Back in the ’90s there were as many great actors and improvisers in Chicago as there were Starbucks.
Phil Lusardi was one of them. Though we never worked together, I knew and respected his work. We would occasionally run into each other at the actor bar, The Damen.
He was always positive and honest, which is a rare combo.
We could have long conversations about acting, improv and how to get ahead in our careers.
He had studied with Del Close after I had, and in my experience, everyone had their own unique experience working with him. At times, I saw Del’s brilliance, but most of the time, I was terrified of him.
Recently, Phil started a Substack called Yes And... Now What? where he wrote a story about how he learned about playing to the top of your intelligence from Del. I love this story because it not only captures Del's personality, but it also sheds the light on the often-used phrase "Play to the Top of Your Intelligence.”
Here's a small excerpt of what Phil wrote, about what Del said in class one day.
[Del said:] “We’re going to explore and heighten playing at the top of our intelligence.”
What he made clear—and what I came to understand—is that this doesn’t mean we’re smarter than anyone else. It simply means we bring everything from our lives—our experience, our curiosity, our questions—to the stage. Fully and honestly.
Everything had to be grounded in truth. Because audiences? They can smell bullshit a mile away.
Del always warned us:
Don’t try to be funny.
Don’t go for the joke.
Commit to the truth. Explore and heighten it.
And the comedy will emerge organically.
What Del said to Phil was so simple, and it's still true today. That was the brilliant side of Del. (I highly recommend that you read the rest of Phil's wonderful story on his Substack here).
I’m so glad I stumbled upon this blog because not only did it make me remember this universal truth, but it also made me feel grateful that I got to part of the Chicago improv scene in the ’90s, and all of the great people I got to meet — like Phil.
totally awesome