THE LAST SALOON
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at BATS, Wellington From 15 May 2012 to 19 May 2012 Reviewed by: Maraea Rakuraku; |
A HELL OF A PLACE TO DIE...
Welcome to the unwritten frontier, where everyone is wild at heart, and every stranger brings a story. Wellington Improvisation Troupe's latest show seeks to evoke the Wild West, exploring character without limits and comedy where no laws apply. Playing with the darker, rougher side to the International Comedy Festival, The Last Saloon opens at the venerable BATS Theatre on 15 May at 6:30pm.
Show Director Geoff Simmons has been obsessed with Westerns from a young age. “When I was 6 I used to watch Clint Eastwood with my uncle Jim while he cleaned his shotguns,” he says. “That freaked me out more than horror movies ever have.” This show will be paying homage to Westerns, rather than lampooning them. Promising to avoid the usual parodies and cliches like rolling tumbleweed and baked beans around the campfire, anyone who is a fan of Westerns like Deadwood will love this show.
The actors find the comedy in the rich characters and foreboding atmosphere of tension that the Western genre provides. It turns out that Westerns and improv have a lot in common. “Everything is heightened because life is always on a knife-edge, which is a lot like doing improv,” Geoff says. “One wrong step at any moment and it can all blow up. Improv uses that heightened tension to get laughs, but really it can be taken in any direction”. This show will truly be a journey into uncharted, unscripted territory, and the audience is invited along for the ride.
Wellington Improvisation Troupe is Wellington's not-for-profit, community-based improvisational theatre group. WIT performs and teaches the skills of improvisational theatre at community venues around the Wellington region.
Theatre is made up on the spot by some of Wellington's leading improvisers and courageous newcomers alike, based on suggestions from the audience. WIT players share a love of storytelling and work together as a team to inspire the audience. WIT theatre is sometimes serious, often hilarious and always totally unpredictable.
The Posse: Christine Brooks, Geoff Simmons (Director), Anton van Helden, Nicola Hill, Nicola Pauling, Adam Williamson, Kate Wilson, and Danni Taylor
As part of the NZ International Comedy Festival 2012
WELLINGTON
Dates: 15-19 MAY @ 6:30pm
Venue: BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace
Tickets: Adults $18, Conc. $13, Groups 6+ $14
Bookings: 04 802 4175 or online at www.bats.co.nz
For a full line up of performances, booking details & more information, visit www.comedyfestival.co.nz