I have a soft spot for improvisational comedy. While I appreciate the craftmanship behind tailoring a laugh out loud show, the ability of a comedian to go outside their comfort zone and roll with the punches is what I truly relish. It’s why I still deeply mourn the loss of Robin Williams and his whiplash-inducing pivots. It’s also why I semi-stalk Wayne Brady to see when he’ll be shimmying his way back to Perth.
If you love improv as much as I do, then you absolutely must watch TOD Talks.
TOD Talks is improv on steroids.
It is challenging enough to stand on stage and deliver a five minute monologue about a topic on the spot. A topic that’s partially moulded by audience suggestions, at that.
But that’s not enough for the diabolical geniuses at TOD Talks. They dial it up by a hundred notches by “helping” their victims. By help, I mean dive-bombing them with random slides, graphs and props while they are delivering their talk. I swear, I could hear the producers cackling in the background each time a picture came up on the big screen.
Just seeing the slides pop up like rogue jack in the boxes was often enough to elicit a giggle. How can you not laugh at photoshopped image of a broody Nicholas Cage during a talk about taxidermy?
The Royale Theatre reverberated with laughter as we watched each comic meander their way around each landmine, some a little more adeptly than others.
That is the only downside of this show. The level of enjoyment hinges on the performer’s ability on the day. In TOD Talks, there are no castmates to feed off or sabotage. Additionally, the curve balls requires one to be quick on their feet – a skill that can easily be compromised by an off day.
On the day that we attended, there were two flawless pros who attacked the challenges with gusto. The remaining two performers were still funny but appeared to be struggling at times. One even tried to rope an audience member into their talk. Whether this was an intentional call for help or an attempt at humour, it fell flat for me.
However, my experience may not mirror yours as the roster for TOD Talks rotates with every show. I just wish the line up was announced earlier. I would have loved to see some of my Fringe favourites attempt to navigate the garden path TOD Talks leads them on.
Ultimately, TOD Talks is an entertaining night out. I highly recommend it because not only is it taking improv to a new level in Perth, it’s also introducing the masses to comics we may otherwise never consider visiting during Fringe.