Sitting in the audience of "GoreFest IV: Gross Encounters of the Nerd Kind," it shouldn't have come as a surprise to see the theater's managing director Elyse Becker in the middle of the raucous blood bath. ImprovBoston, a self-described "theatrical incubator," is just that type of casual and comedic setting for such macabre madcap revelry.
"GoreFest" is an annual event that runs for the week leading up to Halloween. This year's "GoreFest" is a musical satire of the 1950s, poking fun at the obsession with UFOs, certain misogynistic tendencies, a sweeping fear of communism and the affinity for smoking that characterized the era.
During Saturday night's show, a flying saucer "flew" across the stage, and no effort was made to hide the fact that it was actually a disc being waved around by a cloaked techie. Even with these low-tech effects, ImprovBoston offers a refreshingly homey feel and a fun, interactive show at reasonable prices. When the dinner-and-a-movie routine gets tired, ImprovBoston offers lively entertainment that warrants the brief T ride to Central Square.
The biggest laughs come when the zany Professor Murray, aggressively dissecting a lab rat, spews fake blood from the rat's anus into the crowd, coating shrieking audience members with the red fluid. It was then that the audience realized why each seat's occupant had been supplied with two plastic bags: so that they can cover themselves from flying "bodily fluids." This happens at various opportune moments, such as when the aliens force one boy's head into a woodcutter, or when a girl's hand happens into a blender during home economics class.
"It was funny; the blood was really funny," said audience member Melissa Starkey after Saturday's show. "I've never been here before, but we'll definitely be back."
The singing in the show was great, the acting was hysterical, the house band was rocking and Saturday night's audience enjoyed GoreFest immensely, even if the script was somewhat mild. But after all, ImprovBoston is in the business of improvisation, not stage writing.
"GoreFest" is, in fact, one of the year's only scripted shows at ImprovBoston. "We usually do improv, some standup and a little bit of sketch comedy," GoreFest director Don Schuerman said.
This year's final showing of "GoreFest" is tomorrow, Halloween night, at 8 p.m. Though the Halloween showing of "GoreFest" is sold out, there are still plenty of opportunities to check out one of ImprovBoston's many weekly shows, each put on by a separate comedy troupe. "You'll see different groups on different nights," Schuerman said. "Every night has its own night and its own show."
In addition to being the director of "GoreFest," Schuerman is a member of Mainstage, the improvisational comedy troupe that is the cornerstone of ImprovBoston's programming. "The signature group [at ImprovBoston] is Mainstage, which performs on Saturday nights. It's like 'Whose Line Is It, Anyway,' but we go completely off suggestions," Schuerman said.
A typical Mainstage show will start with an audience member suggesting a situational setting, such as a picnic. From this suggestion, the actors create a scene and take further audience contributions to develop the story.
"Mainstage has been with ImprovBoston since the club's start in 1982," said Schuerman. And as the sign reading, "Sold Out for 8 & 10 O'Clock Shows," indicated last Saturday, this quirky venue is still attracting crowds.
