THEATRESPORTS at the Museum of Comedy
★★★★
“a slapdash and chaotic style which is mostly fun”
Theatresports sees two teams of improvisers battle head-to-head in a series of short form improv games to challenge and flex their creativity and wit. The audience has the power to decide the points, with applause and laughter. It’s a type of improvisation show that’s been around since the ‘70s, but when comedy troupe Kerfuffle do it, the winning team snags a 3D printed Kerfuffle trophy. High stakes.
It’s fun to watch people have fun, and the performers are clearly having as great a time as the audience. In one game a performer must repeatedly interrupt a sketch, forcing the improvisers to come up with ever more outlandish one-liners. In another every question must be met with a question. In a third, the improvisers must incorporate audience one liners into a normal conversation. The games are designed for maximum silliness, and the performers provide that in spades.
The competitive format is slightly flawed, the audience are reluctant to give anyone one point (or really any less than five) so it does mean a fairly friendly competition. But no one cares. The ineffectual scoring system is part of the charm. The night I’m there, the audience manages to gain points themselves, by shouting out particularly funny answers, and ultimately wins the game.
The hosts, Charlie and Viki Jackson, lean into a slapdash and chaotic style which is mostly fun. Sometimes it feels like it can bring down the energy a bit, but the format still races along. The games and sketches are all cut before they grow stale, but always allow enough time for the ridiculousness to run its course.
Much of improv is about sharing and communicating and throughout the night that energy felt natural and not forced. It was so nice to see the more experienced performers and people who were clearly newer to improv perform together, happily sharing the space. There was no showboating, or jostling to be the star, the group felt inclusive and kind, and that was reflected in the generous and engaged audience.
Kerfuffle is an expert troupe, and their shows lean into their joyous, messy comedy, with passion, teamwork and fun.
THEATRESPORTS at the Museum of Comedy
Reviewed on 18th August 2023
by Auriol Reddaway
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Theatresports
Theatresports
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