Louise McManus has an off-the-wall on stage persona which gets even better when she's tired, hungry or surprised. She has been improvising for way longer than she cares to admits, and is well-remembered for scenes in the
Late Show, as a mentor player at
Scared Scriptless, and as a player and or judge in countless
Cranston Cups.
You'll hear more about her soon, but for now, here is a photo of Louise in character.That's her on the right, in the passenger seat.
Karina Francis is driving the getaway vehicle.
What’s your all time favourite improvised scene that you were in? Why?
I have been in a lot of great scenes mainly standing off stage supporting my team by my absence. I do remember being on stage with Lisa Ricketts at Belvoir where we were in a haunted house. It was a "speaking in one voice scene" where we had to be one person. It was a scream (boom boom).
I once wore a traffic cone on my head with a bit of material flowing from it and imagined that I was a medieval damsel. I loved being a damsel. I recently played with Richard BF and Jonathan Briden in a format we made up. It went for 45 minutes, just the three of us, and was the most challenging thing I have done in improv. Then there was ... oh only one okay.
director's note: I saw the damsel scene. It was more than a sight gag. It was a noble and exciting scene!!
What’s your all time favourite you weren’t in, and why?
I loved watching Julia Zemiro when she played. She was terrific. So gutsy, funny and versatile. Only one. Ok, the scene Julia Zemiro was in. Any of them.
Why do you love improvising?
It stops you taking yourself seriously. Everything is unexpected. You have to rely on quick wits and rat cunning. Just like my day job. You can play a multitude of characters and there are no lines to learn.
What’s your favourite colour (after pink)?
Crimson - so different to pink, I find.
What’s your favourite fruit and why?
Cake. I am not sure I've tasted fruit.
What’s your porn name? (first pet + first street you ever lived in)
Matilda Weemilah.
What’s your ambition for pink ladies?
For the audience to enjoy themselves as much as we do.
Favourite word?
num num (oh, only one word. Then num (repeated).
