By Daniel Brassard
This troupe of Improv actors go by the name of The Cinematics, with the hook that the audience will get the excitement of Improv with the magic of Hollywood. I went to their Saturday April 13th 8 PM show at The Echo Theatre in Provo Utah, located at 145 University Ave, Provo Utah. To get a feel for what mindset I was and am in, I’d like to tell you a small amount of my method of reviewing entertainment. I like to go to all my movies and shows cold, without any prior research and with as little info as possible. I also try not to be a critic, mainly because I’m not sure it’s very helpful to the reader who is wondering what to expect if they venture out to be entertained in Utah. So, my goal in a review is to give an honest review of what I saw and if I think the average person should go and see the production or project.
In my estimation, the room held the capacity for 50ish audience members. After I settled up at the ticket counter, I entered a simple room with the seats filled in a first come first serve manner. The good news was that every seat seemed like a front row seat in matters of visibility. The better news is that it was a packed house, excellent work to whoever made that happen. Tickets were $8 for general admission, $6 for students with ID and a $1 discount for a verbal statement that the person had “liked” them on Facebook. The stage had a stool center stage and a projector screen against the back wall. I was pretty excited when I saw this. I love the idea of technology and theater getting together. After the tech team got everything set up for the show, I waited for their first sound or lighting error. It seems like something always happens in live theater that reminds me of Murphy’s Law. I am proud to report that technical errors never came, ord if they did occur I didn’t notice!
The format for the evening was very inventive and well-conceived. We were provided Movie Theme piano music from a gentlemen wearing a member’s only jacket and sunglasses in a dimly lit room. I could only assume that his future was so bright that he “had to wear shades”, or maybe that he had just come back from a pupil dilation. As a host in a white jacket tuxedo came out, he informed us that we were here for a double feature movie premier and that the vampire like gentlemen behind the piano was a famous movie composer. Now his eccentric attire made sense, the wealthy routinely dress like hipsters from the 80’s. The host introduced us to movie stars as they came in, this line of Hollywood royalty was none other than the troupe called The Cinematics. With the guidance of the Host and the composer, we were encouraged to create a musical fanfare for the night. I’m not a big fan of singing in public. I prefer the shower where the acoustics trick me into thinking I’m in the wrong profession. It wasn’t my favorite part, but it was successfully orcestrated so that the audience seemed to love the opportunity for involvement. There was also a narrated news reel that was short and sweet, and an impromptu song from three casts members with the subject matter chosen by the audience. But the meat of the performance was the double feature. With the genere chosen by an audience member spinning the “Genre Wheel by Fink”, and the title of each film created by audience suggestion, the setup was complete.
The projector came on and showed us the title screen with the movie we had just created. Then the actors immediately hit the stage and created a show right in front of our eyes and off the tops of their heads. The first film was hilarious from start to finish. The second film was a little hit and miss, but the talent of each actor was unmistakably high. The content of these films is unimportant in that audiences will see a new film every performance. But I will say this, it was family friendly, tasteful and very funny.
Reasons to go see the show based on the individual actor’s contributions: Jared Leo Lynton can play a desperate brother or confused lover with a talent as big and luxurious as his hair. Aubrey Reynolds, introduced as “smoldering”, killed in a desperate search for her brother and resurrected as Sarah Palin. Hailey Nebeker, thank you for your epic save of the first film by making that janitor truly understand the meaning of love. If it wasn’t for your very powerful invisible baby 30-second performance, he would have left the hospital. Patrick Newman took a literal slap to the face like a champ, and delivered a figurative slap to the face by phone. Riley Workman’s dynamic roles taught the ethic of keeping your nose to the ground to avoid heartbreak and how to go on the most delightful killing spree. Melanie Stone Thomason defied the odds of a terminal illness, found love at the hands of a janitor and a surprising death in the hands of a secret agent. Julianna Boulter Blake was both the perfect spy and the worst receptionist to tell a secret to and pulled off the lady’s leather trench coat way better than John Jackson.
I would strongly advise that if you are looking to have a good time, filled with laughs and quotable lines, please go see The Cinematics at The Echo Theatre in Provo. If you are on a first date, looking for a date night, a casual to regular theater-goer or usually a hermit and looking to get back into society, this is for you. They are doing something really clever and entertaining, and I don’t think the same experience can be had elsewhere.
The Cinematics Cast:
Riley Workman
Patrick Newmen
Aubry Reynolds
Melanie Thomason
Julianna Blake
Jeffery Blake
Kris Paries
John Jackson
Jared Lynton
Hailey Nebeker
The Echo plans of producing Cinematics Improv nights once a month, so please check back at their website:http://www.theechotheatre.com/
And their Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/TheEchoTheatre
To see when they perform again soon.
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