The Improvisors

by Kayla McCallum - Taita College (age 16)

I attended the Improvisor’s Theatresports last Sunday, the 11th May. I thought the performance was spectacular. It was hilarious, I loved it and I am sure I will attend many more shows with Young and Hungry.

I found myself thinking throughout the show that it is incredibly similar to "Whose line is it anyway?" which happens to be one of my favourite tv shows. There were 8 actors, 4 in both teams, the ref, the keyboardman, Brad (the scoring lad), and the host Greg Ellis.

Things I observed: the Games that were played on stage were also games that I personally have played in Drama, at school. Also I was paying attention to the keyboard man (soundscape) and the toaster and walker used as (props) also during CNN and the use of hot-seating that was incorporated.

Games that were played: SUBTITLES is a game where two actors spoke in gibberish and two other actors translated for them. A walker prop was used in this. Topics were fantasy story. The audience chose "the last day of the blue flower." - an old man is angry at girl for touching flowers that remind him of his deceased wife. Verdict: really enjoyed.

CNN is a game where there were 2 news reporters & 1 interviewer. Topics are fairytale character and event. The audience chose Cinderella and missing her shoe. the interveiwee then interveiwd a mouse, the prince and 1 of the ugly sisters. Verdict: really enjoyed.

BOOK READ was a funny game where the actors were given a holiday event by the audience (Christmas) which 1 actor had only the words from a book to work off, while the other actors acted with him on the audiences topic of a child is dying. Verdict: average enjoyment.

A-Z where each beginning of a sentence has to begin with the next letter in the alphabet. Topic: an awful thing to eat and an awful job. Audience chose chillies and real estate agent. Verdict :average enjoyment.

ONE VOICE the referee had decided to punish one of the groups so he made the team pick two characters in the team to act and speak together in unison. The topic was a man was interviewing one person about the latest novel that they had just released. They ended up talking about a magic talking cat and child molestation? I thought that was weird. Verdict :average enjoyment.

EVIL TWIN I thought it was a clever performance . It's when a role is played by one actor who can suddenly get an alter ego that completely destroys a moment or action. A prop was used in this performance (toaster). Topic was awkward moment. We chose 1st date. Verdict :average enjoyment.

MISSING PART The actors told us to choose a historical 20th century moment with a huge key point missing. The audience chose the moon landing and the missing key was the moon itself. It was not the best performance. Verdict :mild enjoyment.

NATIVE INDIAN One couple was selected in the audience and they each had to describe one characteristic and an animal they think he/she would portray best. Then a narrator would begin telling the way of events and the other actors would play out the part as s/he spoke. The results were the beginning of time.told by lazy bear and adorable manatee. Verdict: I thought this performance was utterly random and mildly humourous.

SLIDESHOW. The actors asked the audience to pick a historical moment in time and a modern fad. The audience chose Jesus Christ and his crucifixion and emos. What happens is there is a narrator that has his/her say about the links to be found and the actors set themsleves up into a tableaux. There are 3 tableaux’s. Verdict : it was my favourite and most enjoyed part of the show!!!

SONNETS,SONGS AND SHAKESPEARE this was selected by the keyboard man’s sister who said she had done nothing that day. The actors had Greg Ellis (host) tell them to add in sonnet song or make their verses sound like a Shakespearean script. at a random moment Verdict :really enjoyed.

The highlights in my night were: Keyboard man, and slideshow. The low points of the night were: native indian and missing part.