one4review | On 17, Aug 2024

This show incorporates improvised comedy with the assistance of artificial Intelligence or AI as its now better known. Piotr introduces himself and his four improv actors before explaining a bit about AI and how this growing and ever improving technology is becoming more and more popular throughout the world.

To begin with we are introduced to ALEX (Artificial Life EXperiment) who is a robot, and a quick demonstration of ALEX interacting through speech communication then follows. Members of the audience are asked to choose a word or subject and the improv actors must compile a short play on the words chosen but can only answer using AI answers generated by ALEX. In this instance, Star Wars and Michael Jackson were selected and the Improv actors do very well to produce a scene to the amusement of the audience. The beauty of Improv is that the subjects chosen are random and therefore each show will be different.

AI then takes us to another level; an audience member volunteers and gives some information about their life before their facial image is scanned and used to transform the four improv actors into four completely different looking people. The improv actors then must produce a sketch for their new character using their own voices, this is the funniest part of the show. Another three words are chosen, and the show finale is one of the improv actors being put on the spot to cleverly compile a storyline using the selected three words.

The show was interesting and had a lot of funny moments throughout but there was a sense of work in progress and lack of coordination at times regarding the AI. The improv performers were very good and seemed to enjoy it more than the audience as they were constantly laughing at each other, similar to impractical jokers.

***
Reviewed by Steve
Gilded Balloon, Patter House, Dram
19.40 (1hr)
Until 18th August