Wit & Whimsy: An Improvised Regency Romance

Although billed as an improv, I’m not sure what was improvised (other than the title for the performance I attended) and what was scripted. It felt mostly scripted although maybe if I went back I’d see a very different show. A lot of frantic activity and a lot of attention on the role of cousins didn’t really add up for me. Still, I enjoyed the chaotic performance along with the rest of the audience and I think the actors were having fun.

This was an entertaining and funny performance by a small cast of four women and one man playing multiple parts. The action is lively and fully of clever dialog. At times the actors crack each other up which makes it all the funnier. You will leave the performance feeling good and grinning from ear to ear with happiness.

Laugh out loud funny, in some parts, in this improvised Jane Austen like regency romance. Two other points were also noteworthy. When the actors cracked each other up, which was reminiscent of the Tim Conway/Harvey Korman skits on the Carol Burnett Show and the quick and witty ways the actors responded to two actors attempted to voice the next line.

It would be interesting, from an audience pointof view, to see how different each improvised show is from each other

A lot of fun, zany and some big laughs

Very well performed. It was funny I really enjoyed

A delightfully silly improv romance. The cast embraced the form and style of the genre with enthusiasm and boundless energy. I'd love to see it again to see what new surprises the cast has for the audience and each other.

Wit and Whimsy is a gem of a show, as it is an improve show and every show is different, I feel it’s important to specify that I saw Cleaver and Clumsy (or was it Clumsy and Cleaver, no matter). Which was silly, sweet, and just a lovely time of watching people fall in love (all played by women, which if your queer is extra fun to watch, especially when they kiss). The show has some audience participation (which is not mentioned), but it is very minimal and reserved to the front row. There was a backtrack which was distracting at times as it did not always match the action happening on stage. I wore loop quiet earplugs and used a tangle very minimally throughout the performance. I am so glad I got to see the show as everyone in it was so talented and clearly just having fun, I wish I could see it again.

Brilliant!!! 5 Stars!! Smart, witty, humorous and leaves you wanting more!!!

Jane Austen meets Gentleman Jack fot a witty and whimsical romp on the moors. A charming, delightful divertissement.

Wit and Whimsy by Regency Improv is an absolute delight! Fans of Jane Austen, regency era lit, rom-coms, long-form improv, and honestly, anyone looking for skilled storytelling with humour and heart ,will be pleased. The cast of Vancouver improvisers weave a multifaceted story about friendship, heartbreak, and of course, love, all while nailing the most beloved tropes and dramatic structural elements of the regency era romance genre. I heartily laughed, swooned, and paused in admiration for this wonderful show. It’s improvised, so multiple viewings are highly feasible. Only a handful of shows left so don’t miss out!!

This show is if Jane Austen wrote comedies. It was so fun, funny, uplifting and wholesome. This show is a great break from all doom scrolling and afterwards I immediately needed to watch Bridgerton. Highly recommend for anyone who loved pride and prejudice but wished it was a tad silly.

You don't need a chaperone for this one! Wit and Whimsy is one of the most unexpectedly hilarious and heartfelt improv experience I have ever had. As a professional improviser myself and someone who as taken notes and made an effort to make myself better in being a socially conscious and considerate comedian and stage partner, this amazing cast of performers makes it look effortless and was truly inspiring!

Their opening suggestion grab was delightful and compelling, after a genuine land-acknowledgement from the B.C. based performers they requested qualities one might associate with someone that we all love, immediately putting us into the romantic mentality.

They also incorporated an oracle card pulling to contribute to the main theme of the show; I dabble in the tarot sphere of reading so I have often associated Oracle Cards with 'levity' or 'lightness'. Here, however, giving power to these cards by having them be the expected theme of the show is something, I feel, should be commended.

Often what separates great improv from "expected" or "noticeable" improv (I'm avoiding saying bad because, typically, the metric of criticism comes from how well audiences can see that this is all made up on the spot) is cohesiveness and a thematic thorough-line. People can look at any form of structure given to an improv show and falsely criticize it for being "planned out". But this suggestion grab involving the oracle cards was an indicator that we were about to witness a show performed by expert story-tellers - Story-tellers who know that, in-order to make-up an entire romance juggling multiple performer personalities that also is expected to be funny and unexpectedly moving, you NEED NEED NEED a thematic structure to tie your impulses together.

And tie together they did. I have been a part of shows where we care for the secondary side characters but RARELY do I see it. It was truly the highlight of the show when the father and mother of one character, who appeared only to give a small level of stakes and comedic relief also had a romantic resolution that was honest to the characters and comedy they had established AND was true to the theme set up initially. Who know that drinking bath water to calm one's nerves could be one of the most honest romantic gestures.

And the main characters were also a delight to watch; from the stuffed suited male characters (presented by the all femme presenting cast) to the female characters that covered a full spectrum of personalities. Each individual had clear identifiers that made me excited to see who would come out from behind the curtain next.

When the moments that revealed the show was truly an improvised show occurred (Breaking on the humorous lines that you didn't expect yourself to say, or not being able to find the opening in the curtain to make your exit) It never pulled me out of the experience. If anything, I laughed even harder because the emotion that motivated the exit was so charged and, truly, which of us has not tried to storm out of a room that we couldn't find the exit out of? 🤣

This was recommended as an A+++++ improv show to me. I'll go one-step further: Wit and Whimsy is an improvised theatre show that encourages me to go to more and more Fringe shows. It is the kind of production that makes me excited for the festival and proud as an Edmonton Artist that this festival brings performs from all of the country and world to share their art with all of us!

Such an amazing group of actors who work so well together. The story ended up so cohesive, with heart and of course, comedy, which is always very impressive for an improvised show.

This was one of those “filler” picks on my schedule, but wow—sometimes the shows you don’t plan for end up being the real gems. Charismatic & Cautious, the title of our performance, had me and the entire audience laughing so hard it felt like we’d all joined in on a shared inside joke.

What I loved was the mix: the comfort of Austen-style Regency romance we all recognize, paired with the unpredictable chaos of improv. The cast leaned into every silly flub, turning accidents into gold, and then hit us with quick-witted, perfectly timed one-liners that landed every single time. You could see them surprising each other as much as the audience, which only made it more fun to watch.

Somehow, amidst all the comedy, a genuine love story still unfolded. It was messy, ridiculous, and unexpectedly sweet—a romance written on the fly, with the kind of heart you don’t always expect from improv. By the end, I was completely won over.

This is exactly the kind of Fringe magic I adore: clever, chaotic, heartfelt, and an absolute blast. An hour well spent, and one I’d happily sit through again tomorrow.

Insanely impressive story telling! Amazing chemistry amongst the entire cast, and every 10 seconds I was laughing out loud!

A must-see for everyone, whether you love Austen or not! The 5-person ensemble worked so well together to create a cast of Regency characters that are both familiar, relatable and fresh. As the audience, you are immersed in a period drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat and laughing all the while at the antics. Go see this show - you won't regret it!

A performance that's both engaging and hilarious! The performers are in a league of their own and not only deliver an amazing show but make it up as they go 🎉

The show was quite funny and they did a great job improvising it as they went. The hour went by real quickly. Recommend to anyone who has ever enjoyed a period drama/comedy.

This show was so well done. They really nailed the tropes of regency romance with some fun twists. The storyline was consistent and the character's actions and choices made sense in the context of the story. It was also hilarious, with perfect moments of wit and whimsy, as the title suggests. So much fun, a must see for any regency romance fan!

I loved watching this show. The characters were deep and well-rounded, with their quirks well pointed out and drew me in. All of this is rare for me to see in improv, and I see quite a lot of improv shows. Very well played and performed. Go watch this show and experience time travel.