A local theatre group is nearing the end of their improv season. This spring, ImpromptOu will conclude Freak Show, its eighth rendition of American Gomorrah Story at Didi’s Playhaus.
“We’ve taken different arcs from American Horror Story and taken a comedic, improvised spin on them. Some of the characters might look like the characters from American Horror Story on TV, but then we see where it goes,” said David Gabert, ImpromptOu’s general manager and one of the performers.
The actors have a very basic script, but there is a lot of room for creativity outside the basic plot and characters.
“We’re all to one extent or another improvisers and you kind of have to be when you’re creating music on the fly,” said Greg Wilson, a performer in the group.
According to Gabert, although the performances are based on the original show, the plot can go off in any direction an improviser likes.
“Those familiar with American Horror Story would know there’s a clown who’s on a murderous rampage. We don’t know if our clown is going to be from the past or if our clown is going to be on a murderous rampage, but we still have a clown character,” said Gabert.
The story takes place in 1954 and depicts characters working in a failing circus freak show, which includes a wacky sense of humour not present in the TV series.
The improvization group has four permanent players and fills out the rest of the cast with guest stars. Gabert, Erica Barr, Nicola Elson and Jay Whitehead make up the main cast for the series.
The show runs as a serial and is modeled after improvised soap operas, such as Calgary’s Dirty Laundry, according to Gabert.
“[We have] Freak Show tonight, for example. We have the girl with the conjoined twin, the lobster boy — a lot of characters that people will recognize, but we won’t know their journeys,” said Gabert.
Music, acting and improv are all lifelong passions of the performers, according to Wilson.
“I started in high school just doing whatever I could. When I got here it’s just all Who’s Line is it Anyway? — that’s the stuff that made me want to make people laugh,” he said, referring to the popular improv comedy TV show which ran from 1998 to 2007.
Wilson spent some time with the University of Lethbridge’s improv group, but eventually he felt he was ready for the next step. He joined Gabert’s company, then called Dramanauts, which eventually became ImpromptOu.
“It’s something Jay, the artistic director, and myself always wanted to do here in Lethbridge and we found a really great audience for it,” said Gabert.
The Gomorrah series is in its fourth year of operation and eighth season. The next chapter will be in three weeks at Didi’s Playhaus. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at theatreoutre.tickit.ca.