COMMANDER BIFF

Jason Sims in Comic Science Improv's "Commander Biff and the Glaxicon Encounter." (Courtesy photo)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- "In most things he's an idiot; but when it comes to killing aliens, he's pretty good at that."

Jason Sims is describing the titular character he portrays in the improvised sci-fi play "Commander Biff and the Glaxicon Encounter."

Comic Science Improv is putting on the show three times at

Acting Up! Academy of Dramatic Arts (8402 B Whitesburg Drive)

: 7 p.m. Dec. 6 and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 7.

Tickets are $7 at the door, and $6 at comicscienceimprov.com

A story set to 'shuffle'

Each "Commander Biff and the Glaxicon Encounter" performance will feature the same major characters, including the antagonist Glaxicons, a race of aliens-descended-from-seahorses, but after that, all bets are off, Sims, 38, says. "What actions are done, what words are said and what plot comes up, none of that's planned."

Business as unusual

"Usually in an improv show, if it's long-enough, I can play 10 or 15 characters in a show," Sims, an appliance parts salesperson by day, says.

"In this one, I'm just playing one character the entire time, and I'm very tuned-in to what he's about – and I know how to help the other players' characters shine."

'Primes' time

The Comic Science Improv players are calling the five main characters the primes. Besides Commander Biff, those include Princess Tabasco (played by Morgan Wilson), Space Captain Jones (Kirk Salmond), the President of the Universe (Lauren Berry McPherson) and Glaxicons leader Damrock (Jeph B. Lee). "And we have rotating people who are called multi-character players and they essentially play everybody else in the universe," Sims says.

Costume party

Ordinarily, Comic Science Improv does not utilize costumes in their shows. But getups are a part of "Commander Biff and the Glaxicon Encounter."

Sims is donning a black commander's hat, big gold star on his lapels, combat fatigue shirt, big boots and multiple firearms, and describes his character's look as "kind of like a cross between the Lipton Tea guy and Fidel Castro."

'An honest sociopath'

Asked to elaborate on Commander Biff's personality, Sims says, "There's this Universal Republic and he has absolute control over their fleet. He is an honest sociopath. [Laughs.] He's also a clone. So he didn't have a normal upbringing or socialized like a normal being. He's also the hero of this thing. Which should tell you what the tone is like."