Wake the Improv

First Fringe Show

Today, I went on a date with a super sweet guy and we got to dress like wizards and wave wands at some improv performers who did a fantastic job keeping us laughing. 🤣 We had such a good time with Bvtt Mvnch and Soap Prov!

Wonderful format

Wizard solicits dream experiences from the audience and conducts interruptions to improv scenes with a flick of her wand. At these interruptions actors are directed to incorporate specific dream fragments into their ongoing scenes. Adept mayhem and you get to keep the wand

Great energy - especially for so late!

Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give this show is that it introduced me to two improv teams that I was not familiar with - That Felt Good & Good Camel House Team - and it put them on my radar to check them out again in the future. The host was also a lot of fun, and the musical accompaniment really added to the almost midnight movie level of crowd energy. If you like going to screenings of Rocky Horror or The Room then you'll find a lot to like here too.

Long Form Improv isn't for Everyone

Long-form improvisation takes enormous skill, and I applaud the groups for giving it a try, but I didn't feel the piece landed. It wasn't bad, just felt unfocused, became a bit dull, and seemed self-referential. I would be more interested in a series of short, focused improv games, as the groups were able to establish characters quickly, but the long-form games didn't keep me interested. Still, bravo for giving it a go.

Your dreams and nightmares come to life

In this novel format, a wand-waving wizard holds court over hilarious shenanigans, and each audience member gets a wand to wave as well. The wizard (played by Ellie Walton) solicits themes from audience members' dreams and nightmares. She then repeatedly interrupts the performance to introduce a new dream theme so the improvisers must turn on a dime to incorporate the new prompt. It's unpredictable, head-spinning fun and well worth seeing.