Review: THE LEAGUE OF IMPROV: GEORGE FOURACRES, Phoenix Arts Club
The cosy surroundings of the Phoenix Arts Club and the sharp minds of The League Of Improv are a match made in heaven. The sold-out audience starts off somewhat nervous but quickly warms up and throw themselves into the action on a drizzly Wednesday evening. George Fouracres, star of Saturday Night Live UK, blended seamlessly with the quick-wit and dizzying improvisation of the seven players on stage.
A simple concept that delivers barrels of laughter - a short conversation with the audience leads to prompts for the comedians to showcase their fast-paced ad-libs. From places to animals and everything in between, the simplest of prompts triggered the loudest of laughs. This is a devastatingly painful evening. Your cheeks will not recover for hours.
As George Fouracres is a dab hand at improvising, his addition to the group works tremendously well. Playing notable characters such as a lonely Vincent Van Gogh and an owl-stomping Hagrid, some of the biggest laughs of the evening came from his off the cuff quips. Not only was his acting sublime, his patter with the crowd was fantastic. He stalked the audience - mumbling about history, old food items and the origins of Goofy. His sets were both quirky and perfectly uncomfortable in equal measures, riffing in an unorthodox manner to squeeze the material from us to be turned into gold on stage. The stream of consciousness approach from Fouracres combined with the utter genius creativity from the players was a joy to behold.
Some of the ever-creative scenarios we were treated to were 'Disneyland death camp', a choir of horny foxes and The Spanish Inquisition. All of the scenes were played for just the right amount of time without feeling elongated. The performers work in tandem with one another and their chemistry is clear for all to see. At some points over the course of the evening, the laughter was so ferocious that some jokes were missed.
In any other medium, the raw act of corpsing is seen as not only unprofessional but also disrespectful to the other performers. Not at The League of Improv. There were moments throughout when every single member on stage could barely hold it together, adding another layer to this night of amusement. The trust and comfortability showcase a bond and a sense of harmony within the troupe. Not only knowing when to end or swap out a scene but also knowing exactly what to say to make the other lose all composure and be resigned to a simple laughing guest.
The League of Improv provides an abundance of joy from humble offerings. By crafting the comedy from audience suggestions in a pure collaborative effort, you feel as if you are not only a spectator but also an accomplice to the fun. A truly unique evening is to be had at the legendary Phoenix Arts Club. The biggest compliment we can give is no matter the guest comedian you are guaranteed an evening of riotous revelry.
No script? No problem.
The League of Improv is a well-crafted show with big laughs and big names. No effects, props or costumes are needed to transform even the most random suggestions into the funniest of scenes.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: James Springthorpe
