A great start. Walking into a thumping funk soul brother was the energy boost that any audience member should have when watching most kinds of improvisation. The introduction that doubled up as an initiation to the evening got me rallied up and set the atmosphere for a dynamic evening.
With an odd mix of games and a big serving of audience participation, I was on board! However at some points throughout the show I was distracted by a couple of disorganised moments over announcing and explaining the rules of the game. Easily understandable and nerves can often get the better of you especially during the first week back, right?
In my opinion anyone who is willing to get up on a stage with a group of people they don’t know very well, in front of a paying audience whom they also don’t know very well is very brave and worth clapping.
On the other hand, similar to every group project you face the possibility of not getting along with some of your members. I am sad to say it, but this was one of those cases that made a lot of the interactions and transitions on stage very awkward.
When one is improvising there is one golden rule – always say yes! Always roll with the scenario your partner gives you and give them something hilariously worse in return. It’s all a part of the game – by trying to make each other laugh as well as the audience. It was clear they didn’t really know each other. And yes… it was fresher’s week, but I thought that with a paying audience they would have been a little bit more prepared. Miss pronouncing each other names, misinterpreting other team mates, worrying and not focusing on the performance but delivering and repeating the same re-worded line to try and cover your tracks (the audience can tell by the way). All clear signs that they have not established a mutual trust that is crucial for playing off each other.
However, in between all of the distractions, the best players were the ones who didn’t get a lot of stage time. A handful of underdogs with excellent delivery, witty humour and a strong commitment to their scene’s and character. They didn’t want the limelight, and that only made me want to see more of them. I would say it was a breath of fresh air, but it was more like a side-splitting laughter!
Although they might have a little work to do I encourage you to grab yourself a ticket for their next show. These guys have got heaps of potential and a buzzing energy that you won’t want to miss!