Both the crude stick figures of the promotional image and unashamedly explicit title of Matt and Ted Make Stuff Up Again (This Time With Paul As Well) suggest, before we’ve even walked in the door, that this show makes no pretense to be anything other than off-the-wall improvised absurdity. The charisma of our performers Matt Burton and Ted Wilson expand eagerly upon this honesty and proudly achieve a fantastic viewing experience from a genre that can easily go either way.
Matt and Ted’s twist on the classic audience suggestion convention of an improv show is that the slips of paper we’re given pre-show ask for the specifics of a hero, villain, location and catastrophe. These prompt the pair into an inane basic narrative which is just as ridiculous as one would hope for, is clearly an original product of that particular night and benefits greatly from the way the pair manage to not try too hard.
The piece is served well by what we imagine to be a wealth of costumes stored backstage, the choice to have an off-stage microphone and the talent of guitarist Paul Bender. Bender’s moody jazz guitar matches the boys’ effortlessness and adds a much needed layer to a show which takes place upon a stage that is completely empty apart from a few pieces of wood.
The real strength of the show comes from the clowning ability of both men, who have mastered the delicate skill of being captivating while doing the most mundane things, are willing to accept the most problematic of offers and whose subtle commitment makes it easy for us to go along with them on the bizarre ride of the night while still showing us that cheeky this-is-really-just-all-a-bit-of-a-laugh glint in the back of the eye.
This is sure to be an enjoyable little fringe experience for anyone who can accept the concept of an unscripted show and will leave you in an excellent mood all night. There may not be profound moments which will linger in your memory for much longer than that, but definitely go along, thoroughly enjoy yourself and be surprised by how well the three men on stage do what they do.
