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The rules of reviewing an improv show should differ greatly from reviewing a regular show, just as the two art forms are completely different. A scripted show is the same night after night, so regardless of when the reviewer comes, he or she will see the same thing. An improv show is always different, you’ll never see the same show twice. The hard fact that so many reviewers ignore is that sometimes improv works, and sometimes it doesn’t. After all, we are watching a group of people who are making up a whole show from start to finish. They don’t have a chance to rewrite or start over, there literally is no net. It has always been my opinion that to fairly review an improv show, the reviewer must see it more than once. They never do; reviewers simply come one time and that’s it. Should the cast suffer for one rough night? I say no! The two shows I saw prior to the one that was reviewed were highly entertaining on many levels. Frank Booth is (as anyone who has seen them more than once can attest to) one of the finest ensembles to come down the pike.
Rich Talarico
