Review, THE LONDON 50-HOUR IMPROVATHON, Wilton’s Music Hall
Claire Bilyard
The London 50-Hour Improvathon, an epic improv event with roots dating back to 1993 in Canada, returns to London in 2024 with another ambitious non-stop weekend of comedy at Wilton's Music Hall. Featuring more than 50 top-notch comedy improvisers, the Improvathon took on the theme of "The Wedding Party," promising chaotic wedding situations over twenty-five 100-minute episodes.
As the clock neared the 40th hour, sleep-deprived actors continue to deliver, showing an impressive level of energy that persists despite the exhaustion. The tireless performers maintain a high level of enthusiasm and connection, even after a sleepless night.
The team collaboration is excellent. The ensemble members support each other without overshadowing individual performances, hyping up the energy, offering new ideas. The musicians are pro at chiming in the perfect moment, seamlessly complementing the actors, building the exact mood the audiences needs.
Over the weekend, the show caters to different target audience. In the family-friendly episodes, director Adam Meggido engages children with dance-alongs and incorporates pantomime traditions like The Ghost Gag. There are opportunities for audience suggestions, however, the limited suggestions doesn’t significantly impact the overarching story.
Facilitated by a host, the show maintains a good flow, yet the carefully structured segments curtail the spontaneity of improv. Taking away the excitement and unpredictability of seeing the actors think on their feet. The short scenes leave little room for the actors to explore, problem-solve, or make mistakes, hindering the magic of improvisation. Each scene feels as if it ended before we get a chance to see how story would’ve developed, or a relationship flourished. The games feel somewhat pre-planned. We wish to see more risks taken on stage.
Considering the episodic nature of the show, cohesiveness and character development might become clearer for those witnessing multiple episodes. For a single-episode viewer, the absence of character journeys and story arcs prompts a yearning for more in-depth storytelling. Maintaining consistency with different audience groups and finding a balance of what information to carry over from previous episodes can be challenging. However, with 40 hours of character building, we hope to see deeply developed characters with richer relationships between them.
Whether influenced by the sleepless night or the constraints of a family-friendly time slot, the show seems to lack room for story arcs. The characters are missing stakes and it seems like the goal of the show is to move from one planned segments to the next.
Quick resolutions to problems faces by the characters and a somewhat predetermined path led to missed opportunities for the delightful surprises that define improv.
In essence, The London 50-Hour Improvathon, while showcasing incredible endurance and collaboration, leaves audiences wanting a more in-depth approach to character development, scene work, and embracing the unpredictability inherent in improv. Craving a bit more vulnerability, we miss the opportunity to share both the successes and failures of the actors, as they find solutions on stage, creating a more authentic and dynamic experience.
** Two Stars
Reviewed by Dan Hsu