BWW Reviews: PROJECT: B-MOVIE from Wing-It Productions

Look out!  The aliens are coming! ... or the monsters ... or the mysterious virus ... or the woodchucks?  Well which is it?  That's one of the questions Wing-It productions is attempting to answer with their latest improv show "Project: B-Movie".  And while it seemed to be a bit of an off night for the gifted performers the night I attended, there were still some hilarious touches, innovative staging and lots of laughs.

The premise with this long form completely improved show follows that most horrific of creatures, the B-Movies of the 50's.  And that's really all they had to go on.  Beyond that it's anyone's guess as to where the story could go.  The night I saw it there was an infestation of dangerous man-eating woodchucks that were terrorizing a small town.  And it was up to a scientist, a factory owner, an FBI man dressed as a hobo, a writer of diet books and a leader to stop them.  No, I'm not making this up.  That I leave up to the hysterical folks at Wing-It each night.  Folks such as Jeremy Brown, Jen Cargill, Adrienne Corcoran, Ian Gerrard, Joe Koenen, Ryan Miller, Erin Plischke, Jen Rizor, David Rollison, Jenny Schmidt, and JEd Thompson and under the guidance of director Andrew McMasters.

Now as I said, this was not their best night.  There seemed to be a lot of offers that were not picked up or followed through by the performers and it wasn't their most focused night.  Hey, they can't all be gems.  But that's the beauty of improv, if it doesn't work one night, just come back later.

But that's not to say nothing worked.  Corcoran was very funny and engaging as the scientist completely obsessed with ... er ... science.  And once Rollison caught his stride as the writer who can now suddenly control the evil woodchucks (you heard me) he stole every scene he was in.  And I must mention the glorious work of Miller as he provided the filmed puppet backdrops for the scene along with his clay woodchuck.  His timing and additions to the scenes were impeccable.  To be honest, I would have liked to have seen an entire show of his uproarious puppet work.  Add into that the perfect improvised mood music from Chris Lundgren.

So a great premise that didn't quite hit on all cylinders the night I saw it.  But I have no doubt future performances will be just as wonderful as they always are at Wing-It.  So be sure to catch Wing-It's "Project: B-Movie" before the woodchucks attack.  It may be your only hope.

"Project: B-Movie" performs at the Wing-It Productions in the University District through August 19^th.  For tickets or information call the Wing-It box office at 206-352-8291 or visit them online at www.wingitpresents.com.

Photo credit: Todd Gardiner