Latest Reviews

Normally in a review, words and phrases like 'lack of preparation', 'unstructured' and 'hastily cobbled-together' would set off the alarm bells. But in Celebrity Theatresports, these things are the essence of the show and the very reason for its success.

Impro Melbourne's annual comedy festival tradition sees the company's best performers teamed up with well-known identities from Australia's stage and screen in a fast-paced, totally improvised competition to win the hearts and minds of both the judges and a spellbound audience. This year's guests hailed from far and wide, including Hungry Beast, Neighbours, Avenue Q, Skithouse and Melbourne's 774 FM.

The competition takes place in a series of short rounds in which each of the four teams must perform a scenario in which the details are given by other teams and the audience. The teams are given no time to prepare and must make it up as they go along, with unpredictable and often hilarious results which are then scored on technique, story and entertainment value.

If you're familiar with theatresports, you'll know what to expect. If you're not, think along the lines of Thank God You're Here but much more energetic and instead of walking into a ready-made scene, everybody has to invent something from scratch. Highlights included an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery; a hobby class which involved the construction of a locomotive, where the same scene then had to be successively acted out in 30 seconds, then 15, then 7 and a half; scenes from a bizarre off-Broadway musical called 'Shoes, Bitch'; a typical Aussie barbecue scene acted out in several different genres; a scene where the cast must act out a day in the life of an audience member who presses a buzzer to let them know if they are accurate or not; a 'We Are The World'-style benefit song for real estate agents; and, in by far the best bit of the evening, a Shakespearean drama about office supplies.

Almost without exception, the cast were talented, quick-witted and up for anything. Each scene was hilarious, the competition was fierce but friendly and the energy continued to ramp up as the evening went on, the audience each time thinking 'how are they going to top this?'

There's really nothing negative to say here. It's good, (mostly) clean fun and you'll be hooked within the first five minutes. Be sure to get along to Impro Melbourne's next event - you won't be disappointed.


Impro Melbourne
Celebrity Theatresports

Venue: National Theatre | Cnr Barkly & Carlisle Sts, St Kilda
Date: Sat 17 April
Time: 7.30pm
Duration: 120 minutes
Prices: Full $35, Concession $25
Bookings: 03 9525 4611 | nationaltheatre.org.au | At the door
Visit: www.impromelbourne.com.au