The life of a Spooner can be hectic – what with so many great London events every week. So it seems appropriate that tonight I'm winding down the post-work day with a classic film and some mates. We've checked the titles, weighed the options and now viewing the trailers for Roulette Slaughter – you know, the romantic horror set in a Casino; Sand in Your Pants which, as you remember, is the costumed drama set in the Sahara Desert; and TERMINUS, that sci-fi classic about a pair attendants from Tooting Beck Bus Depot who get abducted by aliens.
Not ringing any bells? Hardly surprising as these films are from the infinite collection of imagined movies provided by the Scat Pack who welcome us to the Canal Cafe Theatre tonight for their Lights, Camera, Improvise comedy show. Lights, Camera, Improvise allows the audience to invent three films, which tonight's crowd does with much gusto and laughter particularly for early favourite TERMINUS. The Scat Pack team then improvise trailers for all three and the audience votes for their favourite film. The winning film is presented to the audience, complete with a live musical score and lighting effects off the cuff by our performers. It's no surprise when TERMINUS, the trailer for which included the amusing bus attendants and their implied romance, a team of brash American space cowboys rushing in to save the day and probe-happy aliens, is our pick of the night. The lights dim, the music starts and the movie begins.
This isn't a simple movie viewing, however. We're watching with a huge film buff – Scat Pack member Jonathan Burke who plays the role of our host. He is continually “pausing” the film to point out interesting scenes, stopping to “rewind” the actors, “fast forward” or even switch over to special features – all done with the other actors obliging to our erratic film-watching habits. We're encouraged to keep an eye out for details such as excessive mentions of the movie's corporate sponsor (the audience selected Kiwi Shoe Polish) or the musical number that went on to win Best Original Song.
One of the biggest challenges in improv is timing, not of the jokes, but of the overall story line. Without a preset script it can be easy for improv shows to unintentionally drag on much too long. The Scat Pack have clearly put some thought into this issue as the very moment I find myself beginning to wonder how much longer the show will continue, our host announces we're approaching the penultimate scene. By the end, I feel I would have been happy to see them carry on slightly longer – the ideal way to end a comedy show.
The Scat Pack brings Lights, Camera, Improvise to the Canal Cafe Theatre every two weeks but book in advance and don't count on getting a ticket at the door. Given the audience reaction to this talented group, it's not hard to see fans returning again and again to see different films on the Canal Cafe stage. There will also be Edinburgh previews of Lights, Camera, Improvise at the Tristan Bates Theatre in Leicester Square before the group heads north for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
At the close of the musical number, an ensemble performance and quite the improv feat, the audience explodes into sincerely impressed applause. From beginning to end, the audience is kept laughing and engaged with the surprisingly coherent overall storyline and character development of the film itself. The Scat Pack provide the most polished improv I have ever experienced – do not miss this show.
Tickets can be booked through the Scat Pack website or over the phone: 0207 289 6054.
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