Commedia Dell'Arte Reloaded: The Showstopper! The improvised musical

Troupes of travelling comedians setting up stage in various towns to entertain with improvised performances are well-known from Middles Ages into late Baroque times. Commedia Dell'Arte actors improvised performances including acrobatics, song and spoken word from a basic synopsis to leave a distinct mark in theatre history. The Showstoppers continue along the tradition of highly physical Italian comedy in the 21st century. With their concept of an improvised musical, the company tour the UK and have now had a highly successful stint in the West End last autumn.

The idea of improvising a musical from suggestions by the audience defies description and rather needs to be experienced. Once, the initial barrier of shouting suggestions to the stage is overcome, the performances becomes an event where all ideas are taken up by a cast of exceptionally versatile performers and musicians. No idea is too mad not to be included. With the wide variety of suggestions, a pastiche of numbers and different styles is assembled for the performers to follow. The director guiding audience and cast, however, chooses when to insert which number to ensure neither actors nor audience get carried away by, say, a steamy massage in a Roman bath. And so it happens that two American hitchhikers break up in Shakespearian language, whilst another time the ghost of a circus acrobat haunts her sweetheart in a cheese factory with a version of Mozart's famous Queen of the Night aria. In ancient Rome, two pairs of lovers rap on the fact that all roads lead to Rome, rivals duel in the Colosseum and Nero enjoys tap dancing lions. Unless, someone rather wants to try Reindeer guano tea in a German teahouse, which, we were assured, tastes exactly as it sounds.

The achievement of the performers to immediately respond and adapt to new situations, pick up the line of narrative and improvise words and suitable choreography to a vast array of tunes is outstanding. Whilst drawing on traditional stereotypes including national accents and gestures, the actors manage to keep performances fresh and incorporate references to daily occurrences be they sports or the arts. One or two pairs of lovers, narrative detours, surprising revelations and cliff hangers, The Showstoppers have all theatrical devices up their pockets. The most notable achievement is the swift pacing of exchanges in conjunction with narrative clarity that leads to a highly plausible end to whichever implausible plot the audience conjured up. As such the improvised musical manages to effortlessly appear in the audience's minds. No eye remains dry, no performance is alike. Now returning again for regular performances in London, the company will cast their spell at The Lyric theatre. Subscribe to the experience, go with the flow and let The Showstoppers take you on a journey.