Over the years I have been to many improvised shows, some geared more towards children than others, and highlights such as The Showstoppers and Paul Merton's Impro Chums are absolutely excellent examples of improvised comedy at its absolute best. However, does such a format and premise lend itself to children, and will they be able to respond to, understand and enjoy in the same way adults do? Well if anyone should know, then the people behind the curiously long-winded title of The Extraordinary Time-Travelling Adventures Of Baron Munchausen should. In fact, it is probably fair to say that the format actually works equally well or even better with children; not because their imaginations are greater than ours, but because their imaginations are not distracted by the mundanity of adulthood and the way we process information is different from a child.
There was one slight problem this afternoon however, that being the distinct lack of children in the audience! In an audience of only 15 people, only 5 of those were actually the show's target audience! Lesser performers would have cancelled the show and gone to the bar, but these three stalwarts took the challenge head-on and in an hour-long show which required not just audience response but full audience participation becoming an integral part of the improvised narrative, wearing costumes and speaking on stage with the actors, we too had to simply 'go with the flow' and the adults also found themselves (myself included) becoming characters multifarious as the imrpovisation went forward. Fortunatley for all, despite the lack of audience, the ones that were there were more than happy to be 'children' again for a while and help the show along. In fact for the youngsters it was probably more fun to see their dad or older sister on stage making a fool of themselves, than for them to be on stage.
The show started with much too loud music and a raucous entry onto stage from the three performers. I think they realised immediately though that this was perhaps too loud and brash for the size of their audience, and they toned it down considerably thereafter. Despite the title, Baron Munchausen was nowhere to be seen - that is until one of the audience was asked to play him - and in the hour, four long-form improvised scenes were played out. Each of the three actors taking one each (with the help of the audience of course) and the final one involving all three. It was a lovely format which worked well, and was indeed very enjoyable.
The three performers were the highly energetic, ecentric and hugely personable Will Seaward with a booming theatrical voice the likes of which we hardly ever hear these days.. much more reminiscent of the 1950s RSC but an absolute delight to hear such tones in modern theatre; the enigmatic and seemingly somewhat put-upon Nigel Lovell, whose playing of Mozart's Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the silent trumpet was a surefire highlight; and Ellie Griffiths, who was the weakest of the three performers, but it was good to have a female and quieter presence on stage for any youngsters who might not have come on stage to Seaward's bombast. The three worked excellently together though and you could tell they were enjoying this just as much as the children were, and that's exactly as it should be.
I would highly recommend Baron Munchausen to anyone with young children who wants to expose their children to comedy theatre with this engaging troupe of improvisers who are guarnteed to entertain, no matter how old you are!
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 6/7/19
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