IMFEST: Day 2

Day 2 of IMFEST: The 3rd Annual Montreal Improv Festival. My how time flies when you’re busy off your ass!

Yesterday’s IMFEST activities began for me when I picked up Joe Vanderhelm of Edmonton’s Rapid Fire Theatre at the airport. It was an interesting experience, standing there at the arrivals gate holding up my IMFEST poster next to all the limo drivers with their much less creative signs bearing the names of (presumably) important business and corporate types . But I guess it did give me the opportunity to advertise to that coveted improv-fans-who-hang-out-at-airports demographic.

Last night, an even larger crowd at The Comedyworks awaited us for show #2 of IMFEST. I decided to open once again with a variation on the classic technical difficulties bit. I must say that The Comedyworks finicky CD player fulfilled its role in the piece admirably.

After a brief improvised story by yours truly concerning male nipple tassels, TSC Improv once again took the IMFEST stage. Dan Bierne and Brent Skagford last night were joined by Etan Muskat as they proceeded to create an improvised Western. In just 20 minutes, TSC were able to save everyone in the audience $12 on the admission price for “Appaloosa”. Their version featured Brent Skagford ad-libbing an Ennio Morricone-esque spaghetti western score that, in my opinion, ought to be available on iTunes and more gory slow-motion shoot-outs than Sam Peckinpah’s wildest wet dream.

The aforementioned Joe Vanderhelm along with Kirsten Rasmussen then took the stage as Rapid Fire Theatre. They were joined by a third player: an extremely versatile white bed sheet. Playing with a unique short form style that was refreshingly new to me, Joe and Kirsten proceeded to take us on a tour of Kayne West’s brain, create an all-new After School Special about “hooligans” and give us a variation on the Snow White story so twisted that we may well have an army of Disney lawyers on our ass before this fest is done.

Finally, it was up to local improv legends Uncalled For to bring it all home. Last night featured the strip-down-back-to-basics line-up of Anders Yates and Dan Jeannotte. These guys delivered so many great lines that I could dedicate the next three days of blogs to just that. But that wouldn’t really be fair to the other troupes, would it? Some of the highlights included “You’ve done so well, I’m giving you the keys to everything”, “When life gets tough, the weak complain”, and my personal fave, a love letter that opened with the line “To Whom It May Concern…”

IMFEST moves into Mainline Theatre tonight with Rapid Fire Theatre, On The Spot Improv and Without Annette. More on that tomorrow….

Plus a big shout-out to the Storybox Theatre crew as they make their 15 hour drive from Chicago!

Terence Bowman
Big Cheese/Head Honcho
IMFEST