Imagine performing a 90 minute, unscripted theatre production every night.
Now imagine that every night’s performance is a completely different character and genre, ranging from the Wild West to musicals, period dramas and comedy - and you have the first ever Improv Festival at the Kalk Bay Theatre, starring some of Cape Town’s fastest thinking performers.
Running until the 9th of February, guests will be spoilt for choice: Tuesday nights is the regular Theatresports evening, followed by Wednesday Westerns, Thursdays at Thornton Hall, Friday Family Musicals and Super Scene Saturdays.
The opening night performance was Wednesday Westerns in Rattlesnake Creek and boasted a rather large cast of 11 performers, including a sheriff, madam and prostitutes (and what’s a western without a dodgy sheriff and brothel?), storekeeper, farmer family (complete with bitchy mother in law) and a tall dark mysterious stranger. What makes the production particularly interesting is before the show starts cast members draw cards in front of the audience and, depending on what card they draw, are either allowed to kill characters or not – and none of the cast members know what cards the rest of the cast drew! As a result, each show will follow a different storyline and have a different conclusion.
Considering the show runs for 90 minutes (two 45 minute acts with an intermission) it’s incredible to believe the performances are completely unscripted and improvised. The only help the actors get is from the director, who will determine when a scene ends, read a brief introduction for the new scene and have a short interlude played to set the mood. The result is a surprisingly cohesive and entertaining show filled with a lot of laughter.
The hilariously funny Improv Festival is on at the Kalk Bay Theatre Tuesdays to Saturdays until the 9th of February. Tickets are R60, excluding dinner, and shows start at 8:00pm. Book online at www.kbt.co.za
Jeremy Abbott is a born and bred Capetonian and loves everything about Cape Town,
except the southeaster, traffic jams, taxis... the list goes on... and so does he...
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