Being inspired by fairy tales, Gothic themes and the warped imagination of Tim Burton was all-too-clear in the wide and undeniably impressive range of sketches, theatre troupe The Maydays gave.
I defy anyone to find a better improvisational theatre troupe. Tim Burton would be proud!
The swiftness with which they could go from a scene of abject despair to gut-clenching hilarity meant that no change instigated by any one of the female quartet proved too big a challenge. Indeed, the complete absence of fluster between each scene transition showed improvisational theatre at its best.
Initially asking for audience members to shout out what their grandfather’s professions were, the chosen job of ‘carpenter’ set The Maydays going. Starting in a carpentry yard, the faultless four devised an effortless song to the soundtrack that started playing without any hesitation whatsoever. The soundtrack’s often-at-times haunting quality wonderfully set up scenes where characters would kookily act against the tone of the music. Unfalteringly hilarious! Just ask the regular and uproarious laughter that came from the audience.
The Maydays’ ability to portray one end of the emotional scale to the other, and everything in between, makes it hardly surprising that they have won awards in the past. Not only were the troupe dab hands at portraying human characters, but nonhuman ones too. From portrayals of rocking chairs to trees and animals, not one hint of wooden acting was to be found. The way the beginning of the carpentry-inspired story came full circle at the end in the context of a romantic reunion will unquestionably mirror the complete love you will have towards any of the fantastic performances this troupe give in the future.
With the theatre troupe’s aptitude to take you on a fantastical yet believable journey means they are sure to go down as greats in theatre history. Continuously questioning the eccentricities of life, what requires no thought is your decision to buy a ticket to any of The Maydays’ performances. I defy anyone to find a better improvisational theatre troupe. Tim Burton would be proud!
