Review: Queen and Friend
Queen and Friend (Imogen Behan-Willet and Mark Grimes) filled the room at King Lear’s Throne on Wednesday night for their second show as a comedy duo. Although, strictly speaking, this was a comedy trio—as Adam managed the door, collected suggestions as to performance location (and secrets that might be revealed by one of the characters), and also organised the online voting.
For the September show, we were introduced to a number of bird-based characters, in and around a bowling alley, and a storyline that centred on infidelity and parenting skills. There were certainly some witty one-liners, leading to the occasional near-corpsing of both performers. My favourite line of the night was probably Barty’s ‘paying off my HECS debt one ball at a time’ (excellent comic delivery from Behan-Willet). Grimes is a talented improv performer, and was particularly funny when trying not to laugh. Frank-the-‘Legal-Eagle’-husband was a great character, and the interweaving of the bird references worked well through the show (with the biggest laughs appearing to be linked to the references to regurgitated meals).
As such shows are completely improvised, the audience experience depends on how the performers are ‘travelling’ on the night—and the performers are at the mercy of the suggestions from the floor. I last saw Grimes in the highly-enjoyable Anywhere Festival show ‘The Wake,’ and can certainly vouch for the quality of Brisbane Improv, perfected through the work of groups such as Big Fork and Ho Hum Musical Improv.
Picture: Queen and Friend voting (Credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Picture (L to R): Queen and Friend, aka Imogen Behan-Willet and Mark Grimes (Credit: Creative Futures Photography).
There was much to like about the Queen and Friend format. The use of the bell worked well (breaking out of scene and character to speak directly to the audience, and move to the next scene), and the online voting was a definite hit. The actors were nimble in switching and interchanging of roles, and in improvising suitably funny responses. But this particular show didn’t feel tight enough. I suggest that future performances would benefit from having a third person onstage, inviting Adam to take control of the bell, and fitting in one more opportunity to vote within the one-hour time slot.
We do have quite a range of options for improv comedy in Brisbane. I’d definitely recommend looking out for Ho Hum Musical Improv, and would be happy to see Queen and Friend again if part of a bigger program.
Picture (L to R): Mark Grimes and Imogen Behan-Willet (Credit: Creative Futures Photography).
Audience information: One night only at King Lear’s Throne, 693 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane (29 September 2021, 7:30pm). 60 minutes. 15+ (held in licensed premises). Tickets $20. The next Queen & Friend show is at the Good Track Comedy Club (2 December 2021).
The reviewer attended the Wednesday 29th September 2021 performance.