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| Kari Coleman and Michael Manuel in Impro Theatre’s The Western UnScripted at the Falcon Theatre. Photo by Rebecca Asher |
Cowgal Lisa Fredrickson solicits (well.. asks nicely) only
two suggestions from the audience as the rest of the ensemble congregates on
stage. An earthquake and a music
box with a ballerina are all they have to go on. And, the play begins.
Lighting by Michael Becker and sound effects by Alex Caan become
additional players as the story commences.
It’s tough to tell the characters without a program. Of course, in a traditional show, the
program lets us in on who’s who.
Not so for Impro. I was
having such a good time I neglected to note the characters’ names to later line
up with the bios in the program.
The best part is that this company of players has rehearsed the genre of
the Classic Western and their costumes define whom they eventually become
as the show evolves. Classic
improv as we have been taught by Sills and locally by The Groundlings, sticks to a
basic formula. Accept the premise. Establish a character and stick to it
(unless you are doubling as a couple of the actors in Friday’s show did) and listen! while
advancing the story line.
Impro’s approach to immersing itself in the Classic Western genre succeeds. The company is made up of well seasoned professionals who know one another and are respectful of the project. It simply works! It’s totally unscripted. Each
player is respectful and attentive to the evolving story line. There’s been an earthquake! This evolves into an arc that involves an explosion at the Comstock Gold Mine,
an unscrupulous mine owner, gold, greed and chicanery. Working in the music box was a little 'iffy' but no one really cared because the audience was fully immersed and the players were having a great time.
Sadly, I didn’t make note of the actors and the characters
whom they remind us of at the beginning of the second act. All of the expected characters are
there: The unscrupulous and greedy mine owner and one of his lackies, a crazy psychic lady, the
tough saloon owner, a pair of ranchers who have been cheated out of their land, long
lost siblings. I’m sure I’ve
missed someone, but this show is not to be missed if you enjoy on the spot creativity
by professional actors who are having a wonderful time as their full length
story unfolds. The ability of the
tech crew to anticipate sound and lighting cues is amazing, especially gun
shots and appropriate music to fill the mood of each scene. Specific area lighting and a beauty of a blue sky backdrop fill in the gaps.
It’s fast paced entertainment with spontaneous laughter and
spirited horseplay.
The players:
Ted Cannon
Lisa Fredrickson
Brian Lohmann
Dan O’Connor
Edi Patterson
Paul Rogan
Michele Spears
Floyd Van Buskirk
For a totally entertaining evening, this is a must see. The company is made up of several other actors: guest performers as well as established members. Every show is within the Classic Western genre, but the participants and the story lines are always changing. The audience was challenged to come back to see how talented these guys are. Highly recommended.
THE WESTERN UN-SCRIPTED
Improvised on the stage by Impro Theatre Company
The Falcon Theatre
4252 Riverside Drive
Toluca Lake, CA 91505
Wednesdays through Sundays
Closes October 5, 2014
Tickets and information:
818 955 8501 / www.falcontheatre.com
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