The Totally Improvised Musical at Leicester Comedy Festival Review
Written by Emmie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
A standout feature of Leicester Comedy Festival, The Totally Improvised Musical delivers a whirlwind of spontaneous songs, chaotic charm, and an evening of pure, unforgettable delight for its audience. In just 60 mins, the group of five performers brings to life a concept, songs, chararacters and choreography into a new musical - created by the audience themselves. So, if you’ve got a niche interest that you would love to be enhanced and developed into a musical, this is the show for you!
At the beginning of the night, the audience is encouraged to throw title suggestions (so come armed with your own!), and on the spot, the next Olivier Award-winning musical comes to life. Our evening took us to the home of Alpine skiing, Milano Cortina, where we witnessed a ‘Valentines Day Gone Wrong at the Winter Olympics’ (a title longer than the curling event at the Olympics itself!) The performers of the night: Bron Edge, Sean Mason, Dalu Thebe, Tom Roberts, and John Cooper are masters of their improvising craft. Then there was Tommy O’Neill, who added the music element to the show.
The five performers put tremendous effort into maintaining a seamless narrative and brisk pace, particularly within the demanding 60-minute timeframe. The result was uproariously funny, with the audience eagerly embracing much of what they had devised. It was educational as well—Valentine’s Day Gone Wrong at the Winter Olympics served as a playful reminder to be careful what happens when you meet your idols!
The Totally Improvised Musical played at the Big Difference as part of the Leicester Comedy Festival. You can find out where they are playing near you by visiting their website.
★★★★
