Review: Scandalton—A Yuletide Regency Romp

**Picture**: The cast of *Scandalton: A Yuletide Regency Romp* (image credit: *Creative Futures Photography*)

Scandalton: A Yuletide Regency Romp is perfectly timed for the festive season; a funny improvised performance, drawing on tropes of regency novels to present a slightly saucy Bridgerton-styled romp. The costumes and set dressing provide appropriate references to an era of propriety, etiquette, and fashion—and the actors portray characters that would be at home in any Jane Austen novel, without sparing the blushes of the audience. All in the interests of entertainment, of course!

Scandalton: A Yuletide Regency Romp opens with a charming introduction for the ‘Dear Reader’ to a ‘book’ of several chapters—at which point anyone unfamiliar with quite how much the success of an improvised show depends on the audience quickly finds out that they can contribute to aspects of the story. Although the narrative arc and characters are already set, the audience plays a vital role at any Improv Queensland show. The quirkiness of the show depends on the suggestions of members of the audience (at the 5th December show, the Christmas tradition was ‘stuffing the turkey’) and the level of sauciness depends on audience participation, as ringing the circulating desk bell requires the performers to spice things up a little.

The Improv Queensland team members are experienced at their craft, which means it’s unfair to pick out just one star—particularly as the improvised nature of the show means that each episode of Scandalton will have different storylines, audience suggestions, and moments for the artists to take a lead. But I can’t resist sharing a few personal highlights from the ‘Scandal of the Stuffed Turkey’ show.

Drew Lochrie (Lord Drew) is a fabulous romantic lead, and rider of horses—including the memorable ride on Charlie (the hobby horse) with Xannel Mangahas (Lord Xannel)—with several entertaining scenes opposite his wife, Lady Liz. Liz Talbot’s charming portrayal of Lady Liz, produced lots of laughs—particularly when speaking about this as her “first Christmas when not expecting one of our sons,’ and went on to discuss seeking out new experiences…including ‘tumbling down a hill.’

Amy Driscoll (Duchess Amy) is an exceptional character actor and gets to wear the best wig of the evening. I really enjoyed Driscoll’s performance as a symbol of virtue, contrasting with the later revelation of the Duchess’ choice of reading material. Becky Beverley’s Lady Becky was a charming author and producer of seaweed scrapbooks, and I would love to have seen more of Lady Becky as the author of this tale. I was entertained by Xannel Mangahas’ performance as the often-heartbroken Lord Xannel (particularly ‘that’ scene with Drew Lochrie), and Tara Murphy (Lady Tara) was an excellent blend of ditzy, saucy, and coy. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so let’s just say that Murphy’s memorable response to the question ‘do you like reading?’ (“I like other things”) is one I will find useful on many occasions.

The mezzanine level PIP Theatre control booth is a perfect spot for the creatives to hang out, and to keep an improvised show moving along. As each Scandalton chapter reaches its close, or where fellow comics feel that the pace might be lagging, the next chapter is launched by the narrator and with a lighting change. The lighting is also used to great effect when an actor can be put ‘on the spot’—literally in the spotlight—and called upon to create a poem (Will Toft, Lighting Designer, and operator with Charlie Graham). At our show, Ciaran Kowald (Lord Ciaran) rose to the challenge of being repeatedly selected … or, should I say, picked upon… to improvise several poems, resulting in some great corpsing, and even the occasional rhyme.

It is not surprising that Scandalton: A Yuletide Regency Romp is a fun one-hour show. Improv Queensland is home to experienced performers and teachers who train comics in the arts of improvisation, and stage excellent theatrical events. Scandalton is co-directed by Wade Robinson and Luke Rimmelzwaan, with the support of Becky Beverley as stage manager and assistant director. A pity we didn’t get to see Daniel Johnston on stage this time (Johnston previously co-stared in the excellent Improv Queensland 2024 production A Lust of Elves and Magic), but it’s great to see that the Improv Queensland team members are able to turn their hand to roles on and off-stage, and to work well with the venue team. I was fortunate to see three shows at PIP Theatre on the night of 5th December, and was particularly impressed at the quick reset of the space before the 8:30pm Scandalton show—thanks to hard work of the Improv cast and creatives, alongside PIP Theatre Stage Manager, Ava Moschetti.

Scandalton: A Yuletide Regency Romp is the perfect choice for a fun, and slightly saucy, pre-Christmas night out with a group of friends or colleagues; just warn lovers of Jane Austen that this is period drama, but not quite as they know it. But be quick. Scandalton: A Yuletide Regency Romp has only two more shows at the 2024 PIP Theatre Toucan Club—so why not use the two shows for $50 deal and then you can compare the 12th and 19th December experiences.

Catherine Lawrence

**Picture (L to R)**: Tara Murphy (Lady Tara), Ciaran Kowald (Lord Ciaran), and Becky Beverley (Lady Becky). Image credit: Creative Futures Photography.

Audience information: Scandalton: A Yuletide Regency Romp (23 November plus 5, 12 & 19 December 2024, 8:30pm), PIP Theatre, 20 Park Road, Milton QLD 4064. 60 minutes. Suggest 14+. Occasional strong haze, alcohol consumption, and sexual references/innuendo. Tickets $30-37, including ‘couples deal’ for $60 (or use the Toucan Club 21 November-21 December ‘two shows for $50’ deal).

The reviewer attended the 5 December 2024 8:30pm performance.

Geoff Lawrence