Photo credit: Louise Myers Photography and Calen Vanstone
Presented by Changing Jennifers
Reviewed 4 June 2015
Improvised theatre is, by its very nature, a hit-and-miss affair. Audiences take a big punt in buying a ticket to something about which they, and the performers, know nothing, until it happens. However, it is amazingly rare, for an improv performance not to be fun and interesting, if not hilarious, and Changing Jennifers certainly held to that.
Stalwarts of the improv scene in Adelaide, Eden Trebilco, Dan Hamilton, Sam Calleja and Phil Cowie were joined by newer member, Alia Syed. Syed is clearly a seasoned and energetic performer, but the group has yet to fully assimilate her. As the only female, and the newer member, she seemed to be on the outside for most of the night, although her on-stage presence was strong, sharp and funny. I’m sure this issue will iron out as they work more together.
Improv performances can be structured in myriad ways: Le Improv takes a random list of words from the audience and then proceeds to perform a story, for an hour, which uses all of those words in some way. Although most of the audience seemed to be regulars, it would have looked a bit more professional, had this been explained more clearly at the beginning, even giving a quick summary of what “improv” means. Otherwise, it comes across as, if not cliquey, at least, “playing to the choir”.
The hour was certainly a rollicking and very clever sixty minutes of fast-thinking, fast-moving improv. Performers working together with, what seems to be clairvoyance, are a joy to watch. A drunk, annoying heckler was dealt with brilliantly. The small venue was used really well. The audience felt as though they got value for money.
Le Improv is Changing Jennifer’s regular gig: the first Thursday of every month, at La Boheme. But as they decided to put this one behind the aegis of the Cabaret Fringe Festival, it would have been nice to see something a bit different/special/extra, such as being joined by a musician, or working with costumes. It just needed something to say “this is a cab fringe show”.
For ten measly bucks, this is a great night out.
Get along next month, and see if the ladies of the CWA have finished killing off their husbands, or if the elephant and the giraffe finally got together…
Reviewed by Tracey Korsten
Twitter: @TraceyKorsten
Rating (out of 5): 3
http://www.changingjennifers.com
http://www.cabaretfringefestival.com/
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