BWW Reviews: Laughing My B.U.M.P Off at Improv Boston's BOSTON'S UNSCRIPTED MUSICAL PROJECT

Reviewing improv is no easy task. There are no long lasting characters or developments, no design elements on which to comment, no script to compare the performances. So by what criteria can an improvisation comedy show be judged? Did people laugh? Was it enjoyable? In situations like this, the only real measurement of quality is the amount of fun experienced by those attending. Which, in some regards, raises the stakes.

Last night, for the first time, I attended a show at Improv Boston, a company that provides a variety of comedy shows, including improv, sketches, and stand-up. Currently, they have a very special project in the works: B.U.M.P, or Boston's Unscripted Musical Project, a musical show completely composed on the spot. For the first half of the night, the company performs a variety of improvisation games, all based on audience suggestions and all including song. And for the second half, they present a fully unscripted musical, complete with characters, conflict, and a mix of ballads and uptempo numbers.

As a rule, I am very impressed with truly entertaining improv, because it requires not only a quick wit, but an ability to completely trust and follow the other cast members. Improvisation is challenging enough when it is just a scene, but adding music takes it to a completely different level. Making the song funny is hard enough, not to mention creating song structure and rhyming. It takes an impressive balance of planning ahead and being quick on your feet.

That all being said, this show was astonishingly put together. It was consistently funny, with frequent uproarious laughter from the audience, and it showcased the actors' talents. The kind of audience that attends a 10pm comedy show on a Friday night is a beautiful one, as more than ever, they are willing to accept whatever happens in front of them. And this particular audience was rowdy from the start, which only fueled the energies of the five performers, who each provided an clear understanding of comedic timing and a love and excitement for what they are doing. All five had their moments of pure brilliance, but what impressed me most was that they worked together in a completely unselfish way that spurred on each other's characters and humors. Even some of the best improvisation based groups end up seeming to compete, trying to get their own clever bit in, but this group of performers was more interested in making the whole rather than the individual succeed, resulting in a constant believability and lot more laugh out loud moments.

All of the performers were intelligent and hilarious, providing very different personalities and styles of comedy. Autumn Gillette was sweet and innocent, shocking audience with a straight faced, saucy remark here and there. Misch Whitaker was spunky and loud, always ready to throw in a hilarious accent to make a signature character (I think Russian accents are irrefutably funny, and that was her poison last night). Tim Stonelake was debonaire and mysterious, and clearly one of the best planners, as his jokes were all brilliantly clever or well timed throw backs to a prior joke. Christine Toohey had a Kristin Wiig versatility, and understood the comedic power of switching between classy and gorgeously awkward characters. And Brian D. Agosta, my personal favorite of the evening, played the underdog, presenting the most amazing, complex, and incredibly weird characters that undoubtedly resulted in belly laughs and applause. This group of performers were wonderfully matched and put together a great, cohesive, extremely silly show.

As I said before, it is not easy to review a comedy show like this because most musicals have been written prior to opening night and have rehearsed at least once or twice. So were the performers the best musicians I have ever heard? Definitely not, but that's not the point. The focus is on the response rather than the crafting of the product. And actually, considering they were making it up as they went, the singing was not bad at all. The real judgement comes from how much fun I had, which happens to be a lot. This is a very specific kind of show, asking for a very specific audience, but it is a kind of show I'd like to see again. And really, I can go as much as I'd like, for it will be different, and hilarious, every time.

CAST: Brian D. Agosta, Autumn Gillette, Corey O'Rourke, Christine Toohey, Tim Stonelake, Marissa Wahkuna, Mish Whitaker

Director/Pianist - BRyan Dunn; Producer - Pablo Rojas; Lights and Tech - Josh Poirier

B.U.M.P will play playing Fridays at 10pm through August 2 at Improv Boston's Mainstage in Cambridge. For more information, visit bumpcomedy.com.

PHOTO CREDIT: bumpcomedy.com

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