Wes Anderson is a cinematic genius. His films are whimsical, idiosyncratic and beautifully complex. The scriptwriting eloquently sharp, witty and erudite. So we had no idea what to expect from Brighton improv favourites Tiny Dynamite, who promised a Wes-inspired, audience-led, fully improvised tale. A bold undertaking that could take them (and us) anywhere.
The three actors filled the tiny stage in movie attire. Scout Master Ward from Moonrise Kingdom, Max Fischer from Rushmore and Margot Tenenbaum are instantly recognisable and we appreciated the effort.
Proceedings commenced with audience participation. We were invited to fill in a label for an imaginary package about to be shipped overseas – recipient’s name, item in transit and reason for sending. What we handed back to the cast was then used to create their off-the-cuff chronicles.
The first half of the show was a sequence of short stories as a handful of shipping labels were read out. A goldfish bowl, a suit of armour and a glitter ball were among the items in transit. The cast responded fast, improvising bite-size backstories around the quirky beneficiaries and unusual gifts. They riffed off each other as their tales became more elaborate. Sometimes it was funny, sometimes awkward, but impressive nevertheless.
In the second half of the show, the cast spun a longer, more intricate, Wes-like storyline around one item in particular. A tennis racket en route to a woman called Slinky Sue. It was wild. They took us from a lonely circus performer and unforgiving ringmaster, to a crestfallen northern horseshit shoveller, an eccentric tennis player who faked his own death, a bolting horse, juggling tigers and a shouty man who thought he was a human train.
It was comical and confusing. Bizarre and bewildering. A torrent of improvised storytelling as the script unfolded. Credit where credit’s due, the cast held it together at points in the show when the whole plot could have crumbled. Laughing with the audience at moments when things got a little too weird between them. But thankfully the show went on and they wrapped up their Wes Anderson-infused tale with a happy ending.
Improvisation is a hard craft. You’ve got to respond fast so there’s no cringe-inducing silence. Yes Anderson is an ambitious undertaking, but go see it with an open mind. No two shows are the same because you never know what’s coming next. And to be fair, neither do the cast.
This is an updated review of Tiny Dynamite’s 2023 production, but they’re back with a new take for 2024: Yes Anderson: Tales From The Tent.
Saturday 11th, Sunday 12th, Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May; 6.45pm; from £7.50
Bleach, upstairs at the Hare and Hounds, 75 London Road, Brighton, BN1 4JF
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