GRAND OPERA HOUSE, YORK. FRIDAY 16TH MAY 2008 Review: By Charles Hutchinson - "The Press" IMPROV, or impro as Paul Merton and his quick-witted chums have shortened it still further, is comedy improvised in the moment. "It's just for tonight," says Merton, arriving on stage first, as much the lead wit as he is on Have I Got News For You. "It's never been done before; it'll never be done again." In content, that is true; in format and chums, however, it is as regular as, say, BBC Radio 4's I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, with its pattern of interactive games that start off with audience comments and then bounce off each chum's reactions and flights of fancy. The full-house audience is quick and eager to offer suggestions - surreal, risqué, bizarre, inspired, straight, daft - and York is in that weekend mood that always helps a gig go well. Merton, as sharp as his jeans and baggy shirt are not, sets the casual yet on-the-ball tone, picked up by Lee Simpson, the most physically adroit performer; Richard Vranch, the keyboard player, guitarist and laidback cheeky chap; and Suki Webster, irresistibly saucy, savvy and more devastating in her impact for choosing her moments when to chip in. The wild card is the big American tornado Mike McShane, more erratic but bursting with energy. From strimming Matthew Kelly's nasal hair, to "larging it" in a new Shakespeare drama, The Duchess Of Manchester, Merton and co can make merriment from anything - and then it's gone, as quickly as it came. Flashing wit indeed.

CORN EXCHANGE, IPSWICH ON 3 JUNE 2008 Review by Rachel Sloane - "One Suffolk" - 4th June 2008 It is twenty years since “Whose Line is it Anyway?” the Channel Four improvisation programme was first on our television screens. Thanks to Dave (what a stupid name for a TV channel!) I am loving the re-runs which, not withstanding the dodgy 80’s hairstyles and clothes, prove the programmes to be as funny as I remember them. One in the team of actors in the 136 editions of the programme was Paul Merton, now better known as a panellist on Have I Got News for You, (BBC 1) and he, with others from The Comedy Store Players, came to Ipswich as part of a touring impro’ show based on the TV format. The audience packed the Ipswich Corn Exchange, ready for Paul’s sharp wit and whimsical flights of imagination….. and most of them would have been at school when Whose Line.. was first screened. Paul Merton was joined by his “chums”, talented comedy actors Richard Vranch, Suki Webster, Lee Simpson and Mike McShane, the American actor who was another of the original TV actors, although hardly recognisable with his slimmed down physique. As the audience called out suggestions for situations, characters, topics, and emotions, the actors, trusting on the quick-wits of their colleagues, responded by incorporating the ideas into improvised sketches. It was white-knuckle acting – and it resulted in the funniest show that I have seen for many a year. A bit risqué at times (blame the audience for their suggestions) we saw an emotional bus queue, a TV interview of an “expert” on llamas who do fencing as an Olympic Sport, and a circus act involving a 55 year old circus lion with no teeth, performed in various film or theatrical styles. Over the interval a bucket on stage was the depository for audience suggestions which the cast then turned into 17 quick-fire sketches (some were apparently too rude to be read aloud never mind acted out!). The evening ended with “a play that Shakespeare never wrote”, Mac-Chef (the cast were initially a bit baffled by that suggestion) and, as each actor ended their life in dramatic gore, all on-stage and off, wondered which one would be left to find the closing punchline… Paul Merton was as funny as we expected – but his team were equally good. I was slightly worried that the editing of the television series meant that a live version of the show would be slower, with more duff impro’, but it was even better live and I left the Corn Exchange with my face aching from laughter. Catch the show if you can. It will be in Norwich on June 17th as part of their country-wide tour.

YOUR VOICE

excellent fun reviewer: Mr Toad's Troos, United Kingdom as always. this is a brilliant romp througth impro madness. the hour passes in 10 minutes. it's a joy   Paul Merton's Impro Chums reviewer: Richard Gill, United Kingdom I have seen a variation of this show many times both in London and Edinburgh and it is consistently funny. Five very talented improvisers play a series of games based on suggestions from the audience which makes every show different and inspired. Paul Merton is one of the quickest, wittiest, funniest and popular performers. His fellow improvisers were Jim Sweeney, Suki Webster, Lee Simpson and Richard Vranch. The winning formula of the show has proved very appealing for years and above all, it is very funny and recommended. Show rating: **** (very good)   Consistent comedy reviewer: Neil Stanley, United Kingdom This is our third successive year at the Fringe investing our cash in Paul and his improve chums. Yet again he (and colleagues) make a good return on our investment and it was nice to see that he made himself available to answer questions after the show. Good to see Jim Sweeney playing his full part.   Excellent reviewer: Peter, United Kingdom Very, very professional show which means there are no dull moments. Could go on for twice as long and I'd still be wanting to see more.   BRAVISSIMO reviewer: Linzi, United Kingdom A brilliant impro show - utterly hilarious. Paul Merton is my hero.   Not enough superlatives! reviewer: Diane, Scotland Utter nonsense! Marvellous! Hilarious! Whatever else you do, don’t miss this show.   As always... reviewer: Ruth , Edinburgh ...excellent   Saving on script writers reviewer: Gordon Stewart, United Kingdom The audience script write the show with improbable ideas and suggestions which are superbly intertwinned with absurd disturbed thought processes from the players to produce an hour of hilarious entertainment. Manages to hold the audience in raptures and leaving them wanting more and no doubt will be sold out next year as well.   Fantastic Fun reviewer: bob , Perthshire There are not enough superlatives for this show. Fast, Funny, Fantastic Fun does not do it justice.   Brilliant reviewer: Don Reilly, Ireland Saw quite a few shows in The Festival and this was by far the best. Great performances by everyone concerned. Thanks Paul.   the real deal reviewer: matthew, United Kingdom All new acts at the fringe should come and see the professionals do it. This show had class written all over it. It was the true meaning of improvisation and had the contemporay views and ideas that made a great show. All members of the cast were brilliant and funny in their own way creating a fantastic show! in perticular i found the way that all of the cast could change and react to any given situation from the audience, and still produce constant laughter is a perfect example of how good this show was. I must see show for anyone as it will make you laugh! www.edfringe.com

Paul Merton's Impro Chums Pleasance Courtyard ***** Anyone who has ever see Whose Line Is It Anyway? on television or the Comedy Store Players on stage will know the format of this kind of show. Suggestions are taken from the audience, both on slips of paper handed in before the start and from things shouted out during the show. The performers then create short scenes, speeches or jokes from these suggestions on the spot without any preparation and try to make the audience laugh. The line-up for this show is similar to two years ago: Jim Sweeney, Richard Vranch (who also improvises the music on keyboard), Lee Simpson and Suki Webster, plus, of course, Paul Merton. There are also some special guest improvisers lined up, and on the first show the guest was Comedy Store Players regular and TV star Josie Lawrence. The show consists of a set sequence of scenes which use information supplied by the audience and are then created and performed by the cast. When it works, it is very impressive and very funny - when it doesn't it can still be funny if the performers deal with it well. These are all very experienced improvisers who deal with pretty much anything that is thrown at them, by the audience or - which is often worse - by the other improvisers. They deliberately block, drop one another into difficult situations and make each other laugh during scenes, but it is all part of the style of the show and is all good-natured and funny. And this show is very funny indeed, at times getting a large, sold-out audience all rocking with laughter in unison. There are a growing number of shows in Edinburgh that claim to use improvisation, but if you want to see some of the top performers in Britain in this style of comedy, you should definitely try to get a ticket for this show. David Chadderton