Battle of the Genres: An Improvised Mashup was a lesson in the art of just having fun. It was a radical and exciting production which kept the audience engaged as the performers built compelling improvised scenes.

The show began with a request to the audience for a genre for each performer to embody. The characters-in-genre then fought to make sure their genre was the most prevalent out of them all. Each actor had to rapidly and spontaneously create characters based on their genre and give them emotions, motives and complex backstories. The show was hilarious and each performer gave their all as they fought to dominate each scene.

Upon my genre suggestion, two performers created a perfect rendition of a Wes Anderson film, with improvised dialogue, mannerisms, and character flaws that were very synonymous with his style! Their dedication to the suggested genres made the audience feel validated and excited to see their genre in action.

However, the performers could have physically embodied and committed to their scenes more, as each break in character disrupted the audience’s attention. They often laughed at their own jokes and visibly acknowledged mistakes. Additionally, in order to move the plot even further into absurdity, the performers could have built upon each other’s ideas more intentionally. Although the chemistry between the characters felt forced and the plotlines of each story felt scattered, it was compensated for by the actors’ dedication to their characters and ability to just have fun on stage.

Some scenes and jokes were also inaccessible to younger audience members, and an appeal to a wider range of audience would have allowed for a more attentive and excited crowd.

In improv, no two shows can possibly be the same, and Battle of the Genres is no exception. The twists and puns and random breaking out into song were entirely unique to that night and despite its hiccups, is entirely too funny to not see at least once.