PLAYS BY [BLANKS]
2026 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
Aug. 17, 2026, 10:58 p.m.
♻️
See It Again

The Great Sunset (Plays by Blanks)

The Great Sunset is an improv piece within the larger show Plays by Blanks, where amateur writers create short scripts that professional actors then perform and expand on stage. The concept is simple but effective: the director offers a choice of three improv scripts, and the audience selects one to be enacted live. In this case, the chosen piece was written by two seven‑year‑olds and then brought to life through spontaneous performance.

The humor in this show is amazing. The actors build jokes quickly, play off each other with sharp timing, and find funny angles in the children's original ideas without losing the story. The improv is really strong, with clear character choices and confident scene work that keeps the narrative moving even as new ideas are added on the spot. The audience was always laughing, and the energy in the room stayed high from start to finish.

Only about one third of the play is pre‑written, so the performers must invent most of the dialogue and action in real time. They handle this challenge well, balancing chaos with coherence so the piece feels creative rather than confusing.

Overall, The Great Sunset is an entertaining example of how amateur ideas can be transformed by skilled improvisers. It is a fun, accessible piece that highlights the joy of live, unscripted theatre and delivers consistent laughs for all ages.