Improv Review ...Because Improv is Art, Dammit

The Toronto show Sin City brought its affable and funny soap opera to the festival, and they brought along an extensive set and costume array as well. From lights up the audience was propelled back into 1949 with some clever and versatile furniture, and followed the up very well with strong characterizations, and witty 1940’s banter.

The show was set up to be a radio drama, but was initially a bit confusing. I wasn’t sure if we were going to see a group in front of microphones simply broadcasting the radio play, or the acting out of that play. It soon became apparent that we were going to see a fully played performance, and then it was easy to embrace the characters that were created.

The plot was thin in the way a soap opera plot should be thin. Scenes only slightly moved the story and allowed the whacked characters to interact with each other in more scenically isolated ways, many of them based on simple ideas that were carried to entertaining extremes. Apparent from these scenes was a love of playing games at each other’s expense. The entire group was soon jumping through hoops to succinctly explain a metaphor, sing a song professing their love, and come up with “the 11 Canadian ‘T’ words.” Though this “pimping” slowed many of the scenes toward the end of the show, it was all in fun and enjoyable to watch.

The announcer was played by the group’s director Ian Ferguson, and he adeptly kept the pace, declared which scene was coming next, and even conducted the pianist as to tempo. Although his purpose was obvious, his presence in contemporary clothing and, at times, speaking into a walkie-talkie, often removed the audience from the fun, old-fashioned world that was created. He might have been better suited to an off-stage position in the tech booth, or the balcony, or to simply be costumed as the others and disguise the walkie-talkie as well.

Despite a few tongue-tied actors and some pre-conceived edits, the style was grandly adhered to, and the actors flawless in their commitment. The show was ended with an announcement to see the next exciting episode next week in Toronto. I recommend booking your flights early.

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