Witness a masterclass in live improv at its finest at the Denver Center Garner Galleria
Buckle up, theater aficionados, because a theatrical whirlwind is about to sweep you off your feet at the Garner Galleria Theatre in Denver. Now extended through April 28, The Improvised Shakespeare Company features a group of quick-witted players clad in modified Elizabethan garb, ready to spin a brand-new Shakespearean yarn out of thin air.
With just a single audience suggestion as their compass, these daring performers dive headfirst into the unknown, crafting a fully improvised Shakespeare-like masterpiece right before your very eyes. Forget about scripts or rehearsals — every line of dialogue is spoken for the first time, every character born anew in the heat of the moment.
The troupe has toured Denver multiple times before, but as one patron told me in the lobby, “I never get tired of seeing them live because it’s truly different every time!”
Though the program lists six esteemed gentlemen — Joey Bland, Ross Bryant, Brendan Dowling, Randall Harr, Tim Sniffen and Blaine Swen — only five appear in the show (Bryant is featured in lieu of one of the other performers on certain nights). But fear not, for this is the perfect number for maximum hilarity. After all, if five acts were good enough for Shakespeare himself, then five actors are the perfect amount for our mirthful amusement.
The evening begins with a spirited introduction, as the players directly engage with the audience and select a title for the evening’s performance. Our show’s title, Queen Catherine’s Birthday, was picked over contenders like Green Eggs and Hamlet (apparently already done by the troupe, alas). Starting from this title, the players weave a tale of epic proportions through palace halls and bustling streets, complete with impending wars, star-crossed romances, and more twists and turns than a Shakespearean sonnet.
The energy of these performers is positively electric, crackling with wit and ingenuity as they deftly navigate the intricate twists and turns of their improvised narrative. Their ability to replicate the speech patterns of the Bard himself is nothing short of impressive, transporting audiences back to the hallowed halls of the Globe Theatre with each soliloquy and aside.
But it’s not just the players who steal the show — credit must also be given to Lisa M. Orzolek’s hilariously versatile scenic design, which serves as the perfect playground for our intrepid performers. From royal chambers to bustling marketplaces, the set comes alive with endless possibilities, providing ample opportunity for our boisterous players to pop out from unexpected corners at a moment’s notice.
As the evening unfolds, the energy in the theater crackles with excitement, fueled by the boundless creativity of the performers and the infectious enthusiasm of the audience. Sure, not every joke lands perfectly, and not every plot twist hits the mark, but that’s all part of the charm of live improvisation. The overall experience is a rollicking good time from start to finish, leaving audiences in stitches with its boundless creativity and infectious energy.
I would strongly recommend that you check out Queen Catherine’s Birthday, but unfortunately, dear reader, you cannot. Each performance of The Improvised Shakespeare Company is a one-of-a-kind experience, never to be replicated or duplicated.
So go forth, brave theatergoers, and witness the magic of live improvisation at its finest. Who knows what newfangled classic will emerge from the depths of their imaginations next?
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