For immediate release:
The Stranger World of Improvised Theatre
Billed as a unique comedy-drama, Impulse Theatre's "Strangers" looks much like an hour-long, comedic play. If anything,
the performance looks sharper and more engaged than many other scripted shows. There are very few clues that the piece
is completely unplanned, unrehearsed, and entirely unscripted.
The show is quirky, and brilliantly funny. Not surprising, when the revolving cast includes a number of Christchurch's
top comedians, including Jo Ghastly, Aaron Jelley, and Audrey Porne.
It can also be distinctly poetic and heartfelt at times. The characters are engaged and engaging. Even some of the
stranger characters come across as surprisingly recognisable, relatable and genuine.
The opening of the show is a very familiar scene. Six people on public transport. No one speaks. They look out the
window, check their phone, or read. They are, as the show title suggests, strangers.
As the bus comes to a stop, they step forward one at a time to give the audience an insight into who they are, and it's
here that we get the only obvious clue that the show is improvised. Each actor takes a card from a black container. The
cards have a short statement, in the first person, such as "I have kids", "I need a drink", or "I want to sell you
something". The actor reads the card aloud, and then continues into a monologue that gives the audience an insight into
who they are.
By the time the sixth actor steps forward, and with all six actors speaking simultaneously, one has to pick and choose
who to listen to, but the effect is quite delightful, almost chorus-like.
The rest of the show is a series of scenes of varying lengths, cleverly controlled by the lighting technician, and
during which these strangers meet each other. The results may be a romantic connection, a friendship, or a bitter
rivalry, but by the end of the show, most if not all of the characters have some connection to each of the others.
Another wonderful part of the performance is the work of the musician, also improvising, who beautifully underscores
each scene, and highlights the emotion and drama throughout the show.
The scenes are suprisingly connected and cohesive, so much so that we once again forget that what we are watching is
being improvised moment to moment to moment. These performers are not just skilled actors and comedians, but very
skilled improvisers. Whilst remaining committed to being in the present and engaging with their scene partner, they are
also having to gather up and store all sorts of information for later use. They have to remember the names of each of
the other characters, none of which is preplanned, as well as everything that has been said and done, so that these
things can be reincorporated later. In fact, it's often this reincorporation that tricks the audience into thinking that
the show has some level of planning.
The final scene brings the story full circle, with the same six characters on the bus once again, but now they know each
other. The energy is much more vibrant. The characters are connected not only to each other, but to us, the audience,
who are left wondering where their lives will take them.
"Strangers" was devised by veteran director, teacher, and actor, Jonathan Briden, for Impulse Theatre. Briden who
started his career with the Court Theatre in the late 80s has performed, taught, and directed around the globe,
including in Australia, Canada, US, England, Norway, and Argentina. He moved back to Christchurch in 2015 and
established Impulse Theatre.
Impulse Theatre shows are performed at Orange Studios in Ferrymead. Tickets are available via EventBrite and at the
door. Check EventBrite or the Impulse Theatre NZ website (impulsetheatre.co.nz) for show dates and details.
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