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Keeping up with Bristol Improv @ Pegg ★★

A hesitant and disappointing show which promised more than it could produce. Milly Randall reviews.

By Milly Randall, first year English

A hesitant and disappointing show which promised more than it could produce. Milly Randall reviews.

Filling a void in the comedy world, overpopulated for so long with droves of men with shared experiences and thus shared anecdotes, the premise of this improv piece is both laudable and forward. Although the promise of non-stereotyped prerequisites for female characters is delivered to an extent, the unfortunate improvised theme of the “beauty pageant” complicated what I believe should – and most likely could, in a future performance – be an empowered and uplifting experience. However, herein lies the skill of improv: working with adversary.

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Bristol Improv / Eddie FJ

The formula of Keeping up with Bristol Improv is commendable, and the foundations of this piece indicate good planning and practice, and the good intentions of team work to an extent to compensate for the somewhat wanting comedic timing. Although the large majority of jokes land and are greeted by considerable warmth and laughter, I feel what could heighten the audience’s enjoyment was quicker, more effective decision making so as to give the plot more momentum.

The design was honourable, but execution was, unfortunately, lackluster.

Although narrative is clearly well-watched by the actors, there is, understandably, a fear of answering the want of plot development. An increase in scene changes may also speed up this process. While the story still had a needed arc and fall, it’s a shame it is missing the sort of unexpected unravelling which can make improv so exciting. It is fair to say that the magic of improv did not thrive in their atmosphere of hesitation.

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Bristol Improv / Eddie FJ

There are undoubtedly some notable characters, who thanks to the all-female cast and production largely diverge from the predictable female pastiches which seem to so often still thrive in liberal comedy spaces. However, character development itself is minimal. Most characters seem to slip into a perplexing fallback of heightened received pronunciation, which makes for an occasionally monotonous exchange – as it was difficult to even discern voice to voice – let alone assign this to a different character or personality.

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Bristol Improv / Eddie FJ

There is undeniably a lack of trust in the audience, yet this disregard for camaraderie is unfounded as the audience were exceptionally affable and cordial. The design was honourable, but execution was, unfortunately, lackluster.

★★

(Featured image credits: Bristol Improv)


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