Despite being able to count the audience members on my fingers and toes, there’s a warm unapologetic welcome into the theatre. First by the musician playing the keyboard to set a quirky atmosphere then the MC, boisterously taking us through how the evening works.

We have two jobs as the audience: to offer ideas when asked and to judge the scenes by clapping to serve a points system which ultimately decides the improv ‘micetro’ of the night (sparkly Minnie Mouse ears as the crown). 

The troupe have a fantastic team spirit and enthusiasm which keeps the energy up for the whole hour.  In all improv shows there’s bound to be the ‘flop moments’ and the ‘gold’, the stronger players and the less so, but this troupe delivers enough gold moments to keep a smile on my face most of the enjoyable hour. I even let out a cackle or two. 

The stand out scene is a voyage to find ‘Space Narnia’ where Captain Jerk falls in lust with the evil Queen and orders Aslan to be killed as, although he seems like a nice Lion, he craps on her lawn and has to go.

There’s a reminiscing pole dancer and rodeo clown, a top cop, space travel, meowing siblings, a stiletto murder and many other deliciously random provocations that arise only in improv. 

A musical romance between two neighbours sees the final two (the two strongest on the night) compete for ‘micetro’ and ends with a beautifully accented twist before the lights go out.

This Worldwide Wellington Tour presented by Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT) deserves bigger audiences! (Click here for the schedule.)

Just to hand – the troupe for this Lower Hutt performance was:
MC: Hedy Manders
Director: Ali Little
Musician: Amand Gerbault-Gaylor
Lighting: Brenton Hodgson
Cast: Adam Williamson, Mike Webster, Rose Andaloro, Joe O’Sullivan, Chiara Monteleone, Phil Anderson, Tony Yulie, Damon Smith, Hayley Webster.

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