RHUM

Spontaneous Broadway is a clever mix of character acting, improvised songs, and audience participation. Before the cast came out on stage, MC Russell Fletcher asked punters to jot down ideas for titles of musicals on slips of paper, and drop them into a golden cup. This isn’t just interactive – in Spontaneous Broadway, the audience is god.

There were some recognisable faces among the cast from programs such as Full Frontal, Thank God You’re Here, Good News Week, and Comedy Inc. They came out in the guise of characters – precocious young actress Sally; accountant/actor from Frankston, Gordon; flexible and somewhat feminine Chad; and the regal Dame Helen.

In the first round, each character interpreted one of the suggestions in the golden cup and performed an improvised theme song from an imaginary Broadway production. There was the ‘inflatable woman’ and her ‘prick man’. There was the story of some removalists called Moved, and the hilarious accompanying song was, ‘You Can’t Put it Where it Won’t Go’. There was a ballad to a dead spider in the musical Exterminate (which featured a dance break); and Dame Helen’s ‘Did You Wash Behind Your Ears’ from Dormitory.

The audience then voted for the musical they wanted interpreted in full, and Dormitory came out in front – the story of a boarding school in colonial Mumbai (or Bombay, as they corrected themselves in song), and a teacher and her student who are actually estranged mother and daughter. A mish-mash of characters in hastily-changed, absurd costumes (and acknowledged stereotypes) featured in a series of cleverly thrown-together scenes. It was even funny when the actors slipped, or were obviously coaxing the others to break into a tune.

There was a huge, engaged crowd and loads of enthusiasm for this show. The cast is extremely talented, and even when the songs don’t quite hit the mark, their body language, facial expressions and use of character are enough to have you in stitches. Highly recommended.

Chuckle Factor: 8 / 10

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