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>> PBS viewers everywhere cannot get enough downton Abbey.
And the show draws an especially huge audience here in the northwest.
So it may come as no surprise that a Seattle theater company is poking a little fun at lady Mary and the Earl and countess Cora.
Pie's Molly spurgeon takes us inside the walls of upside downton.
>> It's here.
It's back.
The new season of downton Abbey.
Once again, we're all glued to our televisions on Sunday night.
And what could be more fertile ground than downton Abbey?
Anthony masters, the artistic director of jet city improv, tell us how your troupe is climbing on the downton Abbey band wagon?
>> You bet.
We've actually created a brand new show called upside downton.
We're doing an improvised version of downton Abbey, it will be the same character types that you love and the intrigue and all of those pieces, as well as the emotional poll that you look forward to every weekend.
>> My favorite part of downton Abbey.
>> Exactly.
>> Tell me about jet city improv specifically and tell me a little bit about improv in general.
>> Sure.
When you go to see a play at other theaters, you're watching an actor on stage who's actually reading a script.
And our actors are a little bit different, they don't actually have a script.
So they're being their own playwright and the director and the actor at the same time.
They are really listening for honestly what someone is saying and being able to use that little bit of information as an offer, accept and build on it, and build the entire play as they go along.
So it takes a high level of cooperation and a high level of listening on their part.
>> Its not just comedy?
>> It's not just comedy.
It's all kind of stuff.
The end result is almost always extremely funny.
>> I can't wait to see how you take downton Abbey and make it a comedic sort of performance.
Can you show us a little bit?
>> Sure.
We've brought some actors.
Before we do that, we can't just dive in, we need to get some suggestions.
So I will ask you, what would need to be the new object that would show up at the manor this year?
>> It can be anything?
>> Anything you want.
>> A microwave, I want to see a microwave in the downton Abbey kitchen.
>> All right.
The new object in the house is a microwave.
>> Let's do it.
>> Lord, am I to understand that lady Eleanor is becoming, well, will be coming to spurgeon alley for dinner?
It's right here, of course.
>> She will be joining us, yes.
I hope that's not too much.
>> Oh, no.
Not too much trouble at all.
There was some concern for Mrs. Kent in the kitchen.
About a box that was delivered this morning from her.
>> Box, what box?
>> The box, it's...
>> The vegetable box?
>> No, no.
>> The fruit box?
>> No.
>> The bread box?
>> No.
>> The toasted box.
>> No, it's not the cold box.
>> Oven box.
>> No, no.
Well, rather like a hot oven box, yes.
It's a...
>> Well, as long as Mrs. Kent is happy, we're all happy.
>> Well, that's just it.
Mrs. Kent isn't happy.
She's quite in a huff.
It heats things without any doing, there's no flame, no conduction, nothing.
>> Make Mrs. Kent happy by any means necessary.
>> Any means?
[LAUGHTER]
>> I'm so happy to find you here.
>> Lady Eleanor.
>> You got the microwave, is that right?
>> Yes.
It arrived this morning.
Everyone in the kitchen is... Apparently thrilled.
>> Oh, wonderful.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
>> Neither would we.
>> An entire meal cooked solely by a microwave.
Isn't it wonderful, darling?
>> It is.
Thank you.
It is ever so wonderful but even more wonderful that you'll be sharing it with us.
>> Yes, of course.
I'll be sharing every kind of hot thing the microwave will make hot.
[LAUGHTER]
Meat... Other meat... Tea.
Other tea.
I'm so excited.
>> Yes.
It's all, it's all very, very exciting.
Can I be honest with you?
>> Of course.
>> About this box.
>> Yes.
>> I'm afraid of it.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Get that out of here.
>> It doesn't have a flame, I can't control it.
I can't control fire, I can't cook.
>> I've been told to please you, so...
>> I think the first thing you can do to please me is remove that box from my kitchen.
>> I can't remove any boxes, do you understand?
It was brought here by lady Eleanor, it was delivered for her dinner this evening, that's so perfectly important to spurgeon Abbey.
>> We made five courses, including soup, and it only took six minutes.
I can't help but worry about my position here in the kitchen.
>> I can't worry about it either because dinner isn't for another three hours.
>> Well, it's finished.
>> Well, you're going to have to keep it warm.
>> I shall breathe on it continuously.
>> I'm sorry, I don't see the difference between an oven and a microwave.
>> You'll have to choose between me and the microwave.
Do you love the path with its ovens and slowness?
>> Yes.
What about the other thing?
>> Me with my microwave and my sparseness.
>> Is there not room at spurgeon Abbey for both?
>> I should hope there's room at spurgeon Abbey for love and for the future, and if you don't would it, I will fire your cook myself.
>> Oh, will you?
>> Yes.
>> She's hiding in my wardrobe.
You can fire her right now if you're ready.
>> Well, hello!
How are you.
>> Better now that I'm not waiting in the coats.
>> Good.
I'm here to tell you that we will no longer be needing your services here at spurgeon Abbey.
>> Oh, no!
It's all I have.
This place is my home and has been since my childhood.
>> All she has.
>> I don't know how to do anything else.
>> It's all she has.
>> But cook.
>> Well, then, then I'm sure we could find maybe something else for you to do.
If not cooking, then... Then cleaning, and somebody will need to push the buttons on the microwave.
And you, my dear, have fingers a button would love to be pushed by.
>> I've got 10 of them.
I can push any button I want.
>> Charlie, I couldn't help but hear a mention of Mrs. Kent's fingers.
>> Yes.
>> Mrs. Kent will be staying on as will lady Eleanor.
>> That's wonderful.
>> Spurgeon Abbey will live on with a microwave.
>> Ah...
[clapping]
>> You can catch upside downton live and in person at jet city improv Thursday and Friday nights through February 14th.
And don't forget the real downton Abbey Sunday nights through February 16th on KCTS-9.
>> Local production of pie is made possible by BECU.
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