Chris Tyler

An iconic Edmonton piece of history in theatre form.

I don't often write Fringe reviews anymore, but after going to the 11:15 PM Friday night Beerprov show, I feel compelled.

Let me set the stage: we walked into a theatre at about 70% capacity, filling out some scene suggestions for a game that would kick off the show. On the stage sat a beer pong table strung with patio lights. Off to the left, a projector counted down to showtime, and six lawn chairs were lined up in a row. It looked exactly like a backyard party; all that was missing was the fire pit.

Around the five-minute mark, the countdown on the projector switched to a zoomed-in video of a beer while The Crystal Method "Name of the Game" roared over the speakers. We were then introduced to the cast via images on the projector, some of whom have gone on to do very impressive things in the Edmonton theatre space. The audience had clearly been drinking before the show, and as the countdown neared its end, you could feel that familiar mix of excitement and nervous trepidation that comes with seeing an improv show. 10, 9, 8... went the countdown, with the audience unprompted joining in to chant out loud. The lights dimmed further, and Beerprov rushed the stage to the music.

The cast then somewhat drunkenly, yet confidently, introduced themselves. They shared quick stories about the group's history, effortlessly playing off banter from the crowd and each other. It seems they’ve had a storied improv career... Okay, I thought... but can you live up to the legends you just boldly half-cut told us?

What happened next was one of the most impressive displays of an improv show I have ever seen. The production value was immense for short-form improv party games. The show was structured around the cast throwing beer pong balls into cups; whichever cup a ball landed in dictated the game the cast was forced to play. Red cups were basic games, while blue cups were extreme.

Here is a spoiler free general rundown of how the improv show went. The first game was a red cup basic game. It involved audience members providing sound effects for the scene. The audience erupted as the tension was burst as the two cast members showed they had indeed been doing this for years, and several laughs were had throughout the game. Shout out to the two audience members who volunteered and clearly understood the assignment. For game two, the ball landed in a blue extreme cup that required them to bring out mouse traps. Two cast members were blindfolded and barefoot, performing a scene based on an audience suggestion while speaking strictly in alphabetical sentences. In game three, the ball landed on a game they called "Hot Ones," where two cast members performed a scene whilst consuming multiple habanero peppers—and remarkably, they continued to build a coherent, flowing, and fun improv scene. Anyone there could tell they weren't faking it: the mouse traps snapped loudly as they were set up, and the peppers were clearly effective, leaving the performers coughing and tearing up on stage.

Several other games were masterfully played within their hour. Some involved marshmallows, a basic interrogation scene that was brilliantly solved by the two improv detectives, and one even involved a... Dyson vacuum.

I walked away from the night certain that the group must have travelled in from Toronto, and I was shocked to learn they had been in Edmonton all this time. Every single member of the cast last night was incredible, and there was not a dull improv game in the bunch. My wife, friends, and I have been talking about it in the group chat all day. FIVE STARS.