Review: amazing panache and imagination in comedy improv musical

The Improv Musical is clearly a well-established event in the Warwick Arts Centre musical calendar, with also clearly a well-established and loyal following.

Nine highly talented improv artists, all anonymous but including an exceptional pianist, are set a challenge by the audience to come up with a scenario, characters, a first song and a name for the show.

The audience was every bit as inventive. The ‘Shoutometer’ registered the most support for Take Me Out, an ITV show with which I have to confess I am unfamiliar. It’s a glorified Blind Date with a twist. Characters included Brian Blessed, the director of the show with laryngitis and usual compere Paddy McGuiness is sentenced to be one of the contestants, while his ‘value’ double is Laddy McStrongbow, a lonely fixer. A married couple who fancy a holiday make up the main action and Joseph, a sweet black chap who also does a great Barack Obama impression, is the vicar.

As you can probably imagine, if you give nine healthy students in the prime of life a stage and complete license to entertain, it will get a bit raucous! But it was absolutely hysterical and really clever.

I love the process of art and, not to sound too high-minded about it, this was art-in-the-making. I was in awe of their amazing panache, composure and limitless imagination.

They are off to Edinburgh for the Festival Fringe from July 30 until August 28 with this show and the international audience that attends are in for a treat.

Jane Howard