Guru by Jeff Griggs

Guru by Jeff Griggs

A legend of improvisational theater, Del Close is best known for discovering and cultivating the talents of John Belushi, Chris Farley, Bill Murray, Mike Meyers, and countless other comedy giants. He was resident director of Chicago's famed Second City and house metaphysician for Saturday Night Live, a talent in his own right, and one of the brightest and wackiest theater gurus ever. Jeff Griggs was a student of Close's at the ImprovOlympic in Chicago when he was asked to help the aging mentor (often in ill health) by driving him around the city on his weekly errands. The two developed a volatile friendship that shocked, angered, and amused both of them--and produced this hilarious and ultimately endearing chronicle of Close's last years. With all the elements of a picaresque novel, Guru captures Close at his zaniest but also shows him in theatrical situations that confirm his genius in conceptualizing and directing improvisational theater. Between comic episodes, Jeff Griggs gives the reader the essentials of Close's biography: his childhood in Kansas, early years as an actor, countercultural exploits in the 1960s (he toured with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and designed light shows for the Grateful Dead), years with the Compass Players and then with Second City, and continuing experimentation with every drug imaginable, which pretty much cost him his health and ultimately his life. He was comedian, director, teacher, writer, actor, poet, fire-eater, junkie, and philosopher. Being a really good actor does not necessarily guarantee that you will be a very good improviser, Close liked to say. Being an actual, complete, hopeless, wretched geek in real life doesn't disqualify you from being a solid improviser, either. He approached improv the same way he conducted his life--in bizarre, dark, and dangerous fashion. Guru captures it.

I loved itTruly. God bless Jeff for hitting the mark. It manages to be so happily depressing and miserably funny at the same time. Del was such a complex character that I always thought you would need 5 books to show people how Del worked and lived. But Jeff does it in under 300 pages. Every improviser should read this book. Twice. -- Ike Barinholtz, MADtv
Get inside the brain of Del Close and witness the evolution of comedy. -- Matt Besser, Upright Citizens Brigade
One day he was ranting and raving and the next day he was the genius of improvisation-some days he was both. Del Close was a guru to so many of us. He directed brilliant shows for The Second City and once walked many miles in the snow in bare feet to kill me. What can I say, I respected this strange man. Jeff Griggs treats us to the inside story of a man who was complicated, larger than life and murderously entertaining. -- Andrew Alexander, Second City
Del Close was a certifiable 'genius.' Brilliant, maddening, knowledgeable, funny, passionate, perverse-beyond comprehension, beyond capturing in a few words. Jeff Griggs has done a better job of it in Guru. It sounds like Del, it feels like Del. Hell, it IS Del-one of the most influential people in modern American comedy. It's good to hear his 'voice' again. -- John Ostrander, author of such comic books as Grimjack, Legends, Firestorm, Suicide Squad, Hawkworld, Wasteland, The Spectre, Martian Manhunt, Author of such comic books as Grimjack, Legends, Firestorm, Suicide Squad, Hawkworld, Wasteland, The Spectre, Martian Manhunter, The Kents, Blaze Of...
As Socrates was to learning, Lenin was to communism, and Al Sloan was to General Motors, so Del Close was the force which impelled Second City and improv to its present standing. Griggs's portrait is touching, funny and captures Del's essence beautifully. -- Dan Aykroyd, Second City 1971-75 Toronto/Chicago/Pasadena
Griggs's timed and textured prose is anything but improvisational.... Sensitive, discerning, and deeply affectionate without ever slopping over into hagiography. * Kirkus *
Offers insight into the world of improvisational theater. Recommended. -- Rosellen Brewer * Library Journal *
Guru is a fitting homage to Close's place in the comedy pantheon. -- Jonathan Messinger * Time Out Chicago *
Griggs' prose...is...energetic and heartfelt, honest and utterly riveting. -- Jack Helbig * Booklist *
A particularly detailed and complete picture. * Kopete.org *
This book succeeds as a personal tribute to a tortured but beloved friend. * Second City *