Showstopper! The Improvised Musical
Celebrating show number 1500!
The phone rings on stage; it’s the producer wanting an update on the new musical in production. The director (on this occasion, Dylan Emery) assures the producer that all is in hand. He puts the phone down, turns to the audience and invites us to offer our suggestions. This is how Showstoppers! The Improvised Musical has begun for 1500 performances.
One of the cast’s founding members addressed us at the end, and shared that at the 1000th performance, the company asked themselves, ‘What now? Shall we just carry on?’. The answer was clearly, yes and the show is clearly unstoppable!
We as the audience offer suggestions of a scenario; we vote on the suggestions and the most popular wins the accolade. Tonight, we’re in a dysfunctional parent-teacher evening where the students have performed well under the desired standard. We’re asked to provide suggestions of Musical Theatre genres/composers. Guys and Dolls, Hairspray, Pippa Cleary (composer) and War of the Worlds are tonight’s choices!
The second act sees more audience interaction, with suggestions submitted via Instagram during the interval. The highlight has to be a scene where two couples reminisce about a holiday where they had ‘explored’ with each other. We’re treated to an homage of ‘Two ladies’ from Cabaret’, but of course the song is ‘Two couples’!
I have seen Showstoppers before; twice in the theatre and with delight, joined a couple of times online during the period which shall not be named! It never ceases to amaze and impress. Each time I’ve come away with my cheeks and sides aching at the improvised humour.
There is immense skill on stage as the six cast members support each other, feed from each other’s creativity and add plot, songs, character and scene setting to each other’s ideas. The director interjects at various points, adding new layers – and further chaos – to the plot unfolding on stage. All of this is supported by an equally talented band, who pick up cues from each other and the actors. It all seems quite effortless but is clearly anything but. The team has crafted its art, and they subject themselves to two hours of unknown territory each time.
What impresses most is how much the audience is lapping up what is being offered. We are all on the same side. No one is there to see the cast fail – and even if they do (one actor forgets his character’s name!) it adds to the enjoyment, especially as the cast will then weave their mistake into the plot! It’s a true moment of co-production between creatives and audience members. We even come out humming some of the songs that have just been created on stage.
If the opportunity presents itself to see Showstoppers, don’t pass it by. It will be one of the most fun nights at the theatre and this is the easiest 5* review to write!
‘Showstopper! The Improvised Musical’ is at London’s iconic Cambridge Theatre throughout the year, for more information: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/showstopper/
Review written by Ian Worsfold
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Photo credit: Claire Bilyard
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