I am a big fan of improvisational comedy (improv); I love watching how quick improv artists are thinking on their feet. One of my favourite improv comedians is Wayne Brady. He is known to come up with full songs, complete with dance moves, at the drop of a hat.
When I heard that the Impromptunes were Australian’s premier musical improvisational comedy group, my interest was piqued. And what? They’re combining improv with the chaos of leaving it to the kids? I couldn’t resist. I thought: Godspeed, Impromptunes. You have no idea what you’re in for.
It turns out they didn’t need luck.
This ensemble, comprising professional musical theatre performers, are not just musically gifted. They are fantastic with the kids. The host in particular was good with interacting with the audience. I was worried that it was just going to be one loud kid dominating the suggestions. However, the emcee made the effort to move around the room and pick different kids. It’s great for fostering an overall sense of community in the venue, and gives the artists the best chance of getting a truly weird adventure.
Pair an unlikely tale with over the top theatrics and crazy facial expressions, and you’re guaranteed a good time. To be honest, I’m not sure who was having more fun: the kids, adults or players!
Half the fun of improv comedy is watching the cast good naturedly rib each other. It’s great when you have a cast who work so well together. It’s perfect when you have players who will not hesitate to sabotage a scene partner for comic effect. I did catch a few slips but these were deftly covered up or turned into a joke for everyone to laugh heartily at.
This show thrives on audience participation. If you’re lucky to have a cheeky kid in your audience, you’ll be in for a wacky treat. In our session, our adventure was about Princess Coco Queen who lived in a castle, and her problem was… video games. This same kid also suggested that the players give their loyal unicorn a bag full of sugar cubes, resulting in a hilarious sidetrack.
And that’s the beauty of improv. Every experience is different, so the content always feels fresh. However, backed by a core ensemble of talented improv geniuses, you can be assured of a rip-roaring good time.
Get musical with Impromptunes. They only have two shows left this season, so be quick!
Pro tip: If you have a kid who is susceptible to randomly breaking out in dance when they hear music, head in early and grab a front row seat. The Parlour is a round venue with tiered seating, so it’s safest for little dancers to occupy the lowest row of seats.