Bribe the Director
Ryan, Shawn, Tara and Paul are back! This time, they have some special guests. Watch as they muddle through an improv show after randomly selecting a director from among them, who will accept bribes from the audience to introduce even more chaos into the show.
Pay us off and call the shots. We are for sale!
Great concepts this year! Love the special guest feature.
A setting based on escape rooms, a story where the twists are up to the audience, some classic improv game moments, and a different director every time. This is the concept for Bribe the Director by Big Dumb Babies. An improv show where the audience controls the plot through various bribes. At the start of the show, placed on the audience’s seats are some sheets of fake money (big dumb dollars) to bribe the director with. The improvisers were forced to do silly accents, speak in one voice, make their own songs, and even use only Nickelback song titles for their dialogue in one scene. While it sounds like the best time you could have, it was confusing whether or not real money was involved or if you could only use the fake dollars or if all of it was a completely fictional free-for-all.
Bribe the Director is an interesting concept that ultimately falls short due to under-explanation and forgotten offers between the improvisers. Though much of the comedy didn’t hit for me, the rest of the audience seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely, laughing themselves to the end.
It was an improv show with plenty of enthusiasm and energy, and the concept itself seemed Okay-ish, but the execution felt weak. The constant curveballs often derailed the story, and while the audience made plenty of offers, many of them didn’t seem to be meaningfully incorporated into the show. There also seemed to be a lack of listening and communication among the cast, which made some scenes feel disconnected.
Mmmmmmyes, this show was POPPIN' with excitement and levels of improv that were mind-blowing. The wonderful cast was 10/10. Great concepts, storytelling, and s o m u c h f u n
Never the same show twice!
Bribe the Director is a really exciting show both in concept and in practice. Paul did an incredible job handling bribes and directing the (structured) chaos of Brooke, Ryan, Shawn, and Tara, who had no idea what might happen next. The cast rolled with the punches brilliantly, telling the story through acting, singing, dancing, and even stage diving. I would go see every single show of theirs if I could.
A likeable cast with great chemistry who really committed to the bit. The audience loved it, myself included. Bravo, Babies. 👏👏👏
What’s to say about a show that actually ASKS you to mess it up!? Hell, they don’t ask you - they give you money to do it.
That’s Bribe the Director from Big Dumb Babies! Now - I don’t want to raise expectations, as they don’t give you REAL money, but each patron is given some “Big Dumb Dollars” to use to bribe the director - Paul - into directing (torturing) the cast - Brooke, Tara, Shawn & Ryan- to follow YOUR suggestions. And IF you want to pool Big Dumb Dollars with other patrons… well, it’s clear Paul is readily bought off… who knows what you might get them to do?!
If you’re looking for a show with spontaneity, energy, and a blast of laughter and fun - and want to become the “assistant director, well… check out this show!!
Chaos at a (kind of) Cost
How would you like to have your hand in the creation of a completely unique improvised production? Bribe the Director does exactly this, and it is so incredibly worth watching for it. Spend some big dumb bills to help pay for Paul’s-- the director-- costly divorce and see some unpredictable improv all at the same time. You can even pool your money with other Fringe-goers to buy something catastrophically hysterical, maybe even becoming an actor or director yourself. I absolutely love how dynamic, flavourful, and fun the bribing system of this show is and I bet you will too. Of course, audience influence is a major staple of the improv artform, however Bribe the Director brings this influence to an exciting new level, allowing interaction throughout the entire show, adding to the experience. This is undoubtedly a show to see-- more than once if your wallet allows-- and a fantastic experience for anyone who loves to instigate (or watch) a little bit of chaos.
Big Dumb Babies put on an improv shitshow in the best way possible!
Its improv with a deviously designed twist: suggestions from the audience come in the form of BRIBES: big dumb dollars having to be put down on anything from naming a character, killing a character... hell, you can even run the show yourself if you've got the money! The cast of kooky characters running the show is great, too! Tara, the ex-lover, Sean, the wacky oldest friend, Brooke, the rising star, and Ryan, the nephew who was a placeholder because they couldnt get a better fourth in time. All with Paul, the director, overseeing, and generally fucking with the show.
Every show is different, so go see it as many times as you are able to! I know I'll definitely be seeing it again!