Everything Theatre Reviews, interviews and news for theatre lovers, London and beyond
Pros: A splendid evening of improvisation providing laughs, topical byplay and some unexpected twists and turns.
Cons: Unsurprisingly stuttered at times. With no script or preparation the cast perform an hour-long show based on a crime suggested by an audience member.
Summary
Rating
Good
Improv is a very unique beast, performance-wise; it takes something heroic to get up in front of an audience with nothing but an idea and your wits. With so many variables the story is always in danger of spiralling out of grasp. On the other hand this is precisely what attracts both performers and audiences alike. A unique experience that will never be repeated, an intense moment shared between the performers and the spectator. Hivemind, the improv group behind An Offer You Can’t Refuse, offer all this with aplomb. The youthful troupe boast a highly-developed dynamic that is a joy to watch and allows for plenty of risks with the narrative.
Upon entry to the show, audience members were handed a scrap of paper on which to write their crime which could then potentially be used as a catalyst for the story in the show. The show started with a few short riffs on crimes taken at random from the audience suggestions before launching into a longer narrative from the suggestions: a crime involving hieroglyphs on the Statue of Liberty.
Flowing tremendously well, considering it was being pulled from the air, themes came in and out of different scenes and seemingly forgotten details popped up again just as they were needed. Such was the intricacy of the tale that there was some part of me that refused to believe the whole thing hadn’t been prepared and rehearsed beforehand. There were a few moments where mouths spluttered and the horrified faces of the actors seemed to be comprehending a void of nothingness, but this was all the fun of the fair.
With great wit, charm and some genuinely surprising moments, the fellows at Hivemind provided a brilliant evening of entertainment that was well worth every penny of the ticket price.
Performers/Writers: Alex O’Bryan-Tear, Jack Lawrence, Ed Elcock, Anton Evans
Booking Information: Runs on one Friday every month
Booking Link: https://www.hivemindproductions.co.uk/upcoming-shows
