★★★

“there’s a soulful melancholic undertone to many of the characters”

Avocado Presents is a two-man improv sketch show, pulled entirely from thin air. The two performers, Hamza Mohsin and Jake Migicovsky, begin by pacing around the space, feeling one another’s energy. Once they feel ready, and they’ve placed their two chairs in position, they launch into a sketch. It’s impressive to watch, though the results are a little mixed. It’s surprising that this duo has been working together for several years; their energy is not entirely in synch and they seem to lack the enthusiastic zeal for the game which characterises so many improv shows.

Mohsin’s comedy comes from a long and silent stare – it’s all in his facial expressions. At times this means he’s hilarious, but it clearly makes it hard for Migicovsky to improvise with. There are several moments where Migicovsky is working really hard to get a comic bit going, and is shut down by Mohsin’s energy. Both men are funny, and they both get a solid laugh over the hour, but there’s a lack of teamwork at times, which is surprising for a show like this.

The sketches are oddly poignant. We leave with questions about modern day masculinity, and what it means to be a man in 2023. A divorced father gives advice to his teenage son – offering him cigarettes and encouraging him to throw the first punch at anyone who side eyes him. In court mandated therapy a young man questions his arson charge, and attacks his therapist for being a future version of himself. A divorce lawyer comes to terms with the fact everyone thinks he’s a creep. Obviously, these sketches are different every day, but there’s a soulful melancholic undertone to many of the characters, which is fascinating, if not exactly funny.

The best bits are when the duo let themselves go and get really silly with it. A strip tease to remove a shoe – a long mimed struggle with a leather jacket – an unexpected proposal, where the bride has brought her own ring. These are moments where the performers shine, and the show really takes off. They’re just a little few and far between.

Avocado Presents is more complicated than a typical improv show, which sometimes works in its favour, and sometimes drags it down. There’s an awkwardness, and a weirdness to it, which is both uncomfortable and strangely arresting. The duo is everywhere, and if you like your improv with a side of peculiar but thoughtful character analysis, it’s worth catching this show.

IMPROV THE DEAD at the Hen and Chickens Theatre

★★★★

“at one point the whole cast go down a water slide, which is a delightful moment of silliness”

Improv, when it’s done well is a complete joy – the cast are having as much fun as the audience and everyone is getting involved and having a laugh. This is very much the case with Improv the Dead, a show which is carefully crafted and orchestrated for maximum fun, and maximum energy.

Right from the beginning the mood is set – we arrive in the space and nearly trip over a dead body, sprawled at the top of the stairs. On stage there are zombies feasting on intestines (which look suspiciously like spaghetti) and a couple of audience members are looking distinctly undead.

The gang launches in with a few short form games, warming up and setting the mood. The team are a cast of filmmakers, keen to act out some scenes from their most memorable genre films – what a coincidence that the audience are super fans and can supply all the titles! Then the show begins properly – it’s a zombie flick, set across two locations, supplied by the audience. There’s a huge cast, which mostly works really well, everyone is quick-witted and full of energy, ready to jump in at any moment. There is a bit of a tricky element of people standing at the edge, waiting to jump in, but everyone gets their chance in the spotlight, which is impressive given the size of the cast. There is lots of fourth wall breaking, with directors, producers and stars jumping out of the scene to get more audience suggestions. This stops things from slowing down, keeps the momentum going and keeps the laughs coming. Cast members also call out to flashback or cut to different scenes, which allows everyone a chance to get involved and stops anything from becoming stale.

Particular stand outs (at the time of writing, cast details were unavailable) are evil butler Jeeves who has worked in the castle for centuries and has the confidence to keep that joke going throughout. Also ‘fourth in line’, a little sister with her own nefarious subplot and Proty-Jay, who struggles with the pressure of wanting to save the world from the impending zombie apocalypse. There’s physical comedy as well as quips; at one point the whole cast go down a water slide, which is a delightful moment of silliness.

Structuring it as a zombie apocalypse movie works really well, it gives the piece stakes – and everyone a chance to be a ridiculously over the top member of the undead.

Any time the energy flags, someone cuts out and grabs an audience prompt, or a flashback or cutaway, which shows the strength of the cast. Everyone can sense the mood and play off each other really well. It’s a complete team effort, and no one is left out.

Improv the Dead is part of a regular improv night, on the second Tuesday of every month, and is well worth a trip to – especially as it’s a different show every single night.

Tag Archives: Hen and Chickens Theatre

Avocado Presents

★★★

Hen and Chickens Theatre

AVOCADO PRESENTS at the Hen and Chickens Theatre

★★★

“there’s a soulful melancholic undertone to many of the characters”

AVOCADO PRESENTS at the Hen and Chickens Theatre

Reviewed on 3rd August 2023

by Auriol Reddaway

Previously reviewed at this venue:

Glad To Be Dead? | ★★ | July 2023

Maybe I Do? | ★★★★ | July 2023

Lautrec | ★★★½ | August 2022

Avocado Pesents

Avocado Presents

Click here to read all our latest reviews

Improv the Dead

★★★★

Hen and Chickens Theatre

IMPROV THE DEAD at the Hen and Chickens Theatre

★★★★

“at one point the whole cast go down a water slide, which is a delightful moment of silliness”