It’s just as well that the imagination of a child overflows with limitless fun and wackiness. 

In Spaced Out! they are asked to believe that the ample figure of Pete Doile is a cross between a giraffe and a zebra on the planet Waldorf … [More]  

Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer

The premise of this Spaced Out Improvisors holiday show is that Captain Bob is rocketing off to some planet or other but his Mother is preparing his birthday party and he’ll be in trouble if he’s not back in time.

We, the audience, variously inhabit Space Control NZ or Bob’s mum’s living room. Bubble wrap and silver stuff adorn the space and Tane Upjohn-Beatson’s keyboard plus improvised  lighting by Uther Dean add to the atmosphere.  

In the opening show Pete Doile begins as Brian from SCNZ and gets us to name the planet to which Bob – Ian Harcourt – is heading in Spacehip Tui. Jonathan Power is an alien (although why he is that on his own planet beats me).*

Much is made of which of the two is ‘normal’. The name of the planet’s inhabitant (Zzzccchhhrr James this day) and the characteristics of the monster he is afraid of (a Zebraffe) arise from audience offers. The monster too thinks he is being chased buy a Robot – made manifest with various accoutrements chosen by young audience members from a pile of colourful props.

Of course it’s just fear of the unknown that is spooking them and they all end up happily together at Bob’s party. One actor (Doile today) plays Brian, Bob’s mum, the Monster and the Robot so it’s fun an games when all need to turn up at the party.

I’ve noticed a tendency in recent Improvisors’ children’s shows for one actor (in this case Harcourt) to control the progress of the story. This may be inevitable as a new format is ‘bedding in’ but combined with the majority of the story appearing to be preconceived, with only incidental elements being offered by the audience (rather like the colouring in activity they are given to take home), it rather subtracts from the pure principles of improv.

Of course it is always possible more is happening spontaneously than ‘meets the eye’, in which case they are cleverer than I thought. Either way the kids get right into it on the day and the adults are grinning throughout.

*The fourth member of the interchangeable improv team is Christine Brooks. 

Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer