COMEDY

Presented by Flash in the Can

Circus Theatre

Review by Jasmine Seabrook-Benson

Perth audiences are guaranteed an ever-so-proper greeting with this show. As you enter the Circus Theatre, you encounter the show’s performers as your personal ushers; they shake your hand, direct you towards your seat, and wish you a good evening.

On stage is an armchair in the floral print most would associate with their grandmothers. Some way behind it is a keyboard. The musician of the group (Dylan Townley) sits there, idly picking out notes to accompany the orchestral music as he watches his co-performers dutifully meet and greet.

Aaaand Now For Something Completely Improvised is a performance brought together by the UK-based improvised comedy quintet Racing Minds. The piece is based around the premise of a story being told by a grandfather to his grandchildren. However, the grandfather – bespectacled and pipe in hand – has forgotten some significant details.

Not to worry though – this is where the audience can help (and those that do are rewarded with a Werther’s Original).

Daniel Roberts is possibly the most proper of all the British gentlemen on stage. He attempts to help the grandfather (Tom Skelton) recall the time-forgotten features of the story, while Dougie Walker and Chris Turner – the grandchildren of the scene – listen attentively.  After a brief string of helpful ideas, the cast give up and Roberts approaches a member of the audience, inquiring “Who is this person in this book – what’s his name?”

That’s not the only detail that’s missing. We also need to establish where the story is set, what the main character’s dark secret is – not to mention the title.

On Thursday night’s show, the story became ‘Boris and The Mashed Banana’. The group wove in and out of the unknown story with remarkable ingenuity. They incorporated callbacks, challenged each other amiably on lapses of thought and speech, and shared scenes with the smooth delivery you might expect belongs only in the realm of an established and thoroughly rehearsed production.

It would be reasonable to think an improvised show would include some fragmented narrative; but such was not the case with this group. Instead, we have seamlessly interlaced scenes and riveting dialogue. As the story surprises and enthralls, it is clear that even the performers are unsure what might happen next. This element of uncertainty only makes more impressive their cohesive performance.

Aaaand now you should probably go see the show.

Aaaand Now For Something Completely Improvised runs until February 9 at the Circus Theatre in the Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge. Tickets available via www.fringeworld.com.au