It’s Las Vegas, 1961. Think mobsters and showgirls, gamblers and dealers, intrigue and suspense. And just what’s going to happen is anybody’s guess, actors and audience alike.
Forget about shouting out a location and character for a five-minute sketch; Sin City: The Live Improvised Serial, from Broad Theatrics, is a unique brand of improv where an entire world is created and an ongoing story organically progresses from show-to-show, unscripted and bursting with creativity.
“A lot of actors are terrified of not having a script, but those of us who love improv, we love the magic of not having any clue what’s going to happen,” said Kirsten Van Ritzen, Broad Theatrics artistic director. “I’m on stage with someone amazing…and we just look in each other’s eyes and have total trust. Basically it’s bungy jumping for actors and we love the thrill of that.”
The idea for the show came to life over 20 years ago while Van Ritzen and her partner, producer and director Ian Ferguson, were living in Edmonton. From there they brought the idea with them during a move to Toronto, where they continued the format with improvisers from the legendary Second City.
The couple ended up in Victoria in 2011 and again sought out the best improvisers in town and taught them the serial format. Since then they have performed 145 episodes.
Each new season the troupe picks a new setting and develops characters to inhabit the world. With the current season, Van Ritzen plays a movie star guesting in the penthouse of the Oasis Casino. Her many plotlines include an attempted insurance scam over a half million dollar pair of earrings and a murder for love by one of her bodyguards.
Each performance is unique and Van Ritzen said new audiences have a great time regardless of where in the story they are coming in. The season begins Jan. 24 and will run through to the end of March.
Performances take place at the Victoria Event Centre.
For more information and tickets visit online at www.broadtheatrics.com.