KC Fringe Festival aficionados choose from and love a variety of shows—comedy, drama or suspense, reflections on trauma or views of dystopian futures, graceful dances or breathtaking aerial circuses. Often, I am most attracted to works that speak from the edge and challenge me to step up to that boundary, too. After all, KC Fringe is a celebration of creative souls who often invite us to confront—and sometimes enjoy—ideas that may render us vaguely uneasy, uncomfortable, or even angry.
“Soup! Improv Troupe” delivers a completely different kind of show–improvisation that is spontaneous, joyful, and just plain fun. Director Leah Towle calls troupers to the stage, feeds them a few words, and watches along with the audience. Actors respond to prompts on the fly, building scenes and characters as they go. Literally every show is a world premiere!
Troupe members dive into challenges with unselfconscious abandon. The cast apparently delights in the creative process as much as viewers enjoy watching it. The audience collaborates by shouting suggestions, then rewards performers with laughter and applause.
Highlights of Sunday’s 5:00 p.m. show at the Center for Spiritual Living were the Yo-yo factory boss and the spontaneous musical “Sounds Like a Song.”
“Soup! Improv Troupe” serves as a palate cleanser for those who have taken in more serious fare, and as refreshing treat for everyone else. It’s an essential component of a balanced KC Fringe Festival diet. Come, take a taste!
KC Fringe would like to thank the following sponsors:
Talking to the Box Office...
