Review: The Pilot, Canal Cafe Theatre

Camden Fringe

The Pilot is an improv show, with everything you see on stage made up on the spot. If you’ve seen Whose Line Is It Anyway?, you’ll recognize the format right away. For those new to improv, it means the performers create scenes and jokes spontaneously, without a script.

The show delivers a night of creative and spontaneous comedy, driven by the energetic efforts of its nine talented performers. The first half featured short-form games like “Emotional Rollercoaster,” “Channel Flip,” and “Sex With Me” (don’t worry, no nudity involved). These games highlight the cast’s quick thinking and knack for playful, interactive comedy, making for an enjoyable experience.

One of the show’s key strengths is its originality, particularly in the second half, where the cast improvise a pilot episode for a fictional TV show. This concept is fresh and shows a lot of potential. However, there are areas where the show could improve to become even more compelling.

The MC, while competent, could engage more with the audience to better set the scene and manage expectations, which is crucial in an improv setting. The structure of the show, combining short-form games with long-form improvisation, is certainly ambitious, but the transition between the two could be smoother. Creating stronger links between the first half’s games and the second half’s long-form content would result in a more cohesive experience. Additionally, trimming the duration to 50-60 minutes might help maintain energy and keep the audience fully engaged.

In the long-form segment, “What’s the Arch?” the performers showcase clear character dynamics and relationships, one of the evening’s highlights. However, “The Poet Who Lied Too Much” is less impactful, lacking the narrative drive to sustain audience interest. If the show aims to mimic sitcom episodes, incorporating elements like pre-recorded laughter could enhance the atmosphere and give it a polished, nostalgic feel.

The energy of the performance does dip at times, likely due to the extreme heatwave we’re currently experiencing. Despite this, the cast do an admirable job maintaining their performance level, showing resilience and dedication.

The most enjoyable moments are when the performers fully commit to their roles and actively listen to each other, creating authentic and engaging scenes that captured the true spirit of improv. The Pilot really offers a lot of promise, and with some fine-tuning the show could reach its full potential.

Created/ Performed by: Anthony Heston, Anthony Pascarella, Gabriel Romero Day, Jared Hudson, Marina Fraser, Jamie Machin, Joe Kelsey, Jonathan Whittaker, Kristina Oliva, Louise Salter, Hunter Johns.

The Pilot plays at the Canal Cafe Theatre until Wednesday 14th of August as part of the Camden Fringe. Further information and booking are available here.