The TheatreSports™ and comedy improv company ImproNOW!

REVIEW - What’s On In Adelaide

4 Stars

Four teams battle it out to be improv champions in Clash of the Titans. No props, no script, just comedians making up scenes on the spot. From first date scenarios to a ‘scene in a shoe’ you never know where the stories are going and that’s the fun of it. Sometimes it’s brilliant, sometimes absurd. But it’s always entertaining.
You get to have your say too. Along with the nice judge and the hanging judge (boo) the third judge is the audience as they cheer and vote for each act.
The group ‘ Baby wants Candy’ created comedy gold from any idea thrown their way. Their improvised songs were hilarious – a scene from Titanic had Jack singing ‘My heart won’t go on’ as he slowly sank into the sea. Also, by asking the audience for a topic for a 4 – minute musical, ‘Barnaby Joyce the Musical’ was born and was the highlight of the show.
For the brave Fringe goer, there’s a chance for audience participation in this show. If not, just watch, laugh and enjoy the ride.

REVIEW - On Dit

If you’re looking for value for money out of your Fringe festival choices this year, look no further than Theatresports. Offering 2 hours of non-stop improv fun, this show will make you laugh until your sides split.
The basis of the show is a competition between four teams of thrilling thespians, who act out scenes based upon audience suggestions. Every performance is unplanned and unscripted, harrowing for the actors and hilarious for the audience.

Some of the highlights of Sunday’s show included Sexy Detectives’ I love you scene involving the deathbed tale of Daisy the Horse, Hashtag’s 3-way, replay skit which told the story of a rebellious child’s use of her mother’s washing machine in several different eras, and Scriptease’s final act in which they could only converse in question.

All teams’ audience interaction was also a stellar part of the performances. The inclusion of audience member Jane as ‘Speed Girl’ in Sound & Fury’s Round 2 skit was particularly riveting.

Taking out the honours as the most hilarious group on this particular occasion were Sound & Fury. The three-man team is also performing a series of Vaudevillian Fakespeare shows at this year’s festival and, if their prowess during this performance is anything to go by, is an act not to be missed by fans of literature and laughs.

REVIEW - Heckler

Have you ever gotten Fringe fear? You’ve excitedly ripped open your fresh Fringe guide hot off the press and then been completely overwhelmed by the massive selection in front of you? How to choose the shows you want to see based purely on the brief blurb?!
Enter Theatresports: Clash of the Theatre Titans. Whether you’re a long time fan of TVs Who’s Line is it Anyway?, or just in the need of a good laugh, this is the show for you.
For those unfamiliar with theatre-sports, host Phil Cowie walks the audience through short rounds of improvised games, each with their own rules and challenges for the actors. Audiences help score the scenes and offer suggestions to be included.
Mostly family friendly, the actors handled the heckling from the children down the front very well, and participation is all voluntary – for those terrified of being dragged up on stage.
The brilliant part is that it is a different show each time, deliciously unpredictable, and its marvellous watching each skit unfold or crumble as actors navigate the rules and scenarios presented to them.
This Sunday afternoon’s entertainment also doubles as a taste-tester for about ten other shows, giving the actors a chance to plug the (many) other shows they are involved in, and audiences a chance to see more of the actors that entertained them the most.
So grab your popcorn, relax back into your comfy Nova cinema seat and get ready to laugh your socks off.

REVIEW - Rip It Up

5 Stars

Theatresports has practically become an Adelaide Fringe institution, and from my experience it’s a surefire winner.
The formula remains the same as past years: teams of performers from other Fringe shows take it in turns to compete for laughs, scored by the audience and two judges. However, the fact that every routine is completely improvised ensures that no two shows are the same, and means there are no diminished returns for repeat viewings.
The contestants this afternoon included David Williams and comedy troupes Sound & Fury and Scriptease, among others. Four teams competed in four rounds for two hours until my cheeks were sore with laughter.
The ad-libbed sketches (based on audience suggestions of locations or key objects) included a Weekend At Bernies take on a child’s birthday, a family who loved their garden compost more than each other, and a supposedly “serious” sketch about a Niagara Falls barrel rider that drew non-stop laughs.
With five spare minutes at the end of the final round, all the contestants joined together on stage in a spontaneous opera based on Taylor Swift.
Improv comedy is unpredictable by its very nature, but Theatresports hasn’t let me down yet!