CHEERFULLY ENGAGED ON A BUMPY RIDE |
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) Director Brendon Bennetts with The Court Jesters at The Forge at The Court Theatre, Christchurch From 3 Jun 2010 to 19 Jun 2010 [1hr 15 mins, no interval (Thurs-Sat only)] Reviewed by Lindsay Clark, 5 Jun 2010 |
Five intrepid improvisers, a new format full of colourful characters (theoretically 'small town') and an audience primed for anything – not a bad recipe for stage entertainment and a variation of one which this merry band has perfected over a couple of decades. In that period, improvised theatre has romped through more and more demanding obstacle courses.
In the latest framework, the challenge from the audience is to create a whole story set in a community not found on any map, but with a deliciously double-barrelled name. We give the team Rambunchus (sic) Mud Pools, as well as a couple of locations within it. We go for a taxidermist's outfit and a dairy. The improvisers add a cemetery and a butcher's shop. Our song selection, which will be worked in somehow, is Ten Guitars – the 'beneath the stars' bit.
After that, as always, it is up to the team to sketch in and develop the people, their hearts' desires, conflicts and solutions before wrapping things up tidily. They have only their wits, each other, a muso (Dan Bain), an open wardrobe/props cupboard and the palpable urging of the audience, to make it work. A beginning a middle and an end – deceptively simple.
On the night in question, our journey is a bit stop and start as scenes open with promising characters but do not always reach the breathless and daring stretches of creativity we all are hoping for. Another time the gel will not be so sticky. Regardless, the audience loves the courage and applauds the bold approach and the scramble to make a problem moment dramatically purposeful, to switch scenes at a high point rather than let them dwindle, to keep some sort of coherence in the overarching plot line.
The team is an experienced one and finds surprises for us, as well as clever repetition and echoing. On this occasion though, it does not wangle the best out of the audience suggestions, so that although we are cheerfully engaged and time passes very quickly, the off-the-beaten-track experience is, as in real life, a bit of a bumpy adventure.
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