REVIEW: Philly Improv Festival, 1st night, 9:30 & 11 p.m.

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REVIEW: Philly Improv Festival, 1st night, 9:30 & 11 p.m.

POSTED: Friday, October 2, 2009, 6:16 PM

Filed Under: Comedy

Courtesy of Boys Club for Men

The laughter bugs were certainly biting at Philly Improv Festival's opening night, though that didn't keep the crickets from occasionally chirping, too. The 9:30 p.m. slot was stacked well: Rookie Card greased up an already-warm crowd (most had been at the festival since 6:30) for the two most tickling performances of the night, New York's Junior Varsity and Boys Club for Men. They both took one-word crowd suggestions like 'library' and 'trapeze,' and turned them into fluid scenes about pesky wives invading man-forts, taking a cab to prom, and ejaculating genies in clouds of smoke. (Wha?! indeed.) The 11 p.m. slot, which featured Strippers Picnic, Lead McEnroe, Marjean and Philly's own Illegal Refill, had some shining stars in each group. On the whole, however, the performers' energy levels were proportional to their entertainment levels, which experienced prolonged lulls from time to time. Maybe it was the Thursday-night, bedtime-story-hour slot, but most 11 p.m. troupes got stuck in long, dialogue-y scenes about absolutely nothing, and it felt squirmy to watch them struggle. But every now and then, a helicopter would crash into a cow and a squirt of tinkle still managed to escape me.

The second night of the festival will take place tonight at 6:30, 8, 9:30 and 11 p.m., for $10-$25 at the Society Hill Playhouse (507 S. Eighth St., 215-923-0210).

John

Posted 2009-10-05 08:06:24

how was the rest of the fest?

Posted by Scott Yorko @ 6:16 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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