Set in a zoo in Tokyo, 'Kimono Jungle' is the touching story of a zoo keeper who finds out she owns the zoo and then accidentally sells it to a couple of Americans who want to eat and wear the animals. With touches of Sondheim, Bertholt Brecht, Rodgers and Hammerstein and the Bee Gees, the score is varied and, yet, somehow feels as though it's made up on the spot. Each song has a close connection to the plot although the plot seems rambling and the carnivorous inclinations of the Americans decidedly tacked on.
I am, of course, actually talking about the blissfully silly 'Showstopper!'. An improvised musical generated from suggestions from the audience. Immensely popular at the Edinburgh Fringe, recently housed at the Trafalgar Studios but now a regular at the Ambassadors with a Radio 4 comedy series under their belt 'Showstopper!' is enjoying great success and, judging by last night, that success is well deserved.
It's obviously impossible to really review the contents of such a show since each one is going to be completely different and, I'm sure, partly dependent on the quality of the suggestions. It is, however, completely possible to be blown away by the skilful pastiches. The Sondheim number sounded like an early draft of 'Into the Woods' and the Brecht section brought tears to the eyes - 'I am a capitalist!'.
Improvisational comedy of this form treads a fine line between collaboration, astonishingly demonstrated in the group singing, and an evil desire to make things awkward for your fellow performers. I loved the unnecessary tongue twister based around Yoshi, sushi, sashimi and sea shanties, for example. If I have a criticism then it would be I wanted to see more of the evil - listening to Caroline Quentin and Paul Merton deliberately corpse each other in 'The Masterson Inheritance' is comedy gold.
All the actors were quite marvellous and full marks to the small band for being able to keep up and make it up. Frankly I'm amazed it works at all. But a extra round of applause for Julie Clare's gin sozzled panda, absolute genius.
Oh and a nod to my line of the evening 'Suzuki, you have to do something! The corners are coming off the block beast!'
Bill Count: 0
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