By Len Lear

"Mary Carpenter is one of the funniest women I know. She is the reigning queen of Philadelphia improvisation, a title she's held for 20-plus years," said Act II Artistic Director Tony Braithwaite, the king of Philly improv, recently.

"Everyone can definitely benefit from Mary's one-woman show about coping with grief. We've all lost a loved one, and Mary's journey is familiar and relatable. I'm not sure grief has ever been this funny, too. Mary manages to tug the heartstrings and tickle the funny bone in the same show, sometimes in the same sentence!"

Fortunately for local audiences, they can see Mary’s performance at Act II Playhouse in Ambler, “The New and Improved Stages of Grief,” from  July 5 to 16.

I can still vividly remember laughing hysterically at Carpenter and her fellow improvisational actors and actresses when we saw them several years ago in "This Is The Week That Is: More Political Humor for the Holidays!" at The Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom St. The show that spoofed stories in the news and contemporary culture was so popular with audiences that its original closing date was extended by an additional two weeks.

Carpenter, 49, who has lived in Mt. Airy for 21 years, may not be a household word, but she has a remarkably quick wit and brilliant acting instincts that have served her well in what may well be the most terrifying discipline in the entire entertainment world — improvisational comedy. For many people, the idea of speaking in public or performing in front of a live audience is a source of great anxiety.

People naturally worry that they might make fools of themselves, even be unable to remember their lines. But how much more terrifying must it be to perform in front of an audience with no lines or script at all, only the ideas in your head as they come to you on stage? While the answer might be terrifying for most people, for Mary Carpenter the concept is exhilarating.

Carpenter, who grew up in Villanova, moved to Mt. Airy after earning theater degrees from Northwestern University and The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. The move was originally intended to be temporary while Carpenter saved some money to move back to Chicago. She was delighted to find, however, that the theater scene in the Philadelphia area had grown exponentially since her childhood, so she decided to make the move permanent.

Improvisational acting, which in recent years found a place in pop culture via the television show, "Whose Line Is It Anyway?," is something Carpenter gravitated towards in college. "In my mind, there's no more vibrant experience than being on stage improvising with fellow actors in front of a live audience," she said.

Since you never know what will happen with improvisation, is Mary scared when she steps on stage? “The improvised parts are actually the most fun for me. I've been doing improv for so long that I feel more excited and energized by not knowing what will happen. It's a great way to really share the show with the audience and make it a unique experience each time.”

A roller coaster of sorrow and laughter, "The New and Improved Stages of Grief" brings a little clarity to the worst of all the situations we find ourselves in and extends a welcoming hand to the audience. "That's the greater purpose of this work," Carpenter insisted. "If we can find a way to laugh together, hopefully it makes the unbearable a little more bearable. It's the comedy that takes away the scariness of it."

Carpenter, who has directed several other plays at Act II, was asked what was the funniest or most unexpected thing that ever happened to her on stage? “That's a tough one. I'll go with a moment from 1812's ‘Something Wonderful Right Away.’ For the final performance I changed a line in a scene with Tony Braithwaite. It was a parody of ‘The Gift of the Magi.’ I thought of a funnier line on the way to the show, and I tried it out. It made Pete Pryor laugh out loud on stage, and Tony managed to hold it together but collapsed into laughter backstage. That was fun.”

What does Mary consider her greatest achievement? “Not giving up.”

What is her greatest regret, if any? “Worrying too much about the way I look.”

Who are her favorite actors and playwrights, living and/or dead? “Emma Thompson, Alec Guinness, Shakespeare, Steve Carrell. Oh, there are too many!”

If Mary could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? “San Francisco and London.”

What is her biggest pet peeve? “Eating loudly.”

What is the best show Mary has ever seen? “That’s too hard; there are so many from different genres. Here is a sampling: ‘Peter and the Starcatcher,’ ‘Henry V,’ ‘Gypsy’ with Patti Lupone, ‘Othello,’ ‘Bat Boy’ and Lily Tomlin's ‘Search for Signs of Intelligent Life.’ And too many more!”

"The New and Improved Stages of Grief" may be another jump off a cliff for Carpenter, but the fall is certainly bound to be an enjoyable one. For tickets and information, call 215-654-0200 or visit www.act2.org