r Improv comedy is a form of live theater in which all or part is unplanned and a spontaneous response of the actors and actresses, usually referred to as the players. In this form of entertainment, a short scene or a question provoking a response is established. The show proceeds with unscripted dialogue, character development and action. Success depends on the quick wit of the players. Nobody knows what to expect from moment to moment and the result is usually hilarious entertainment.
With that little research definition in mind, my wife and I attended the April 25 performance of the Unstable Improv Troupe at the Angelus Theatre in Spanish Fork. It was a fast-moving series of skits that demonstrated considerable acting skill. You can’t help but be impressed by the quick thinking of these young people as they navigate the contrived situations of the play. We were laughing out loud so much we completely lost track of time, and the hour-and-a-half program was over when we thought it was just getting started. What a fun evening.
The performers are primarily made up of American Leadership Academy graduates. The members of the troupe constantly change and that is where the Unstable Improv Troupe name comes from. The improv comedy troupe performs every Tuesday evening in the historic Angelus Theatre located at 165 N. Main in Spanish Fork. The show starts at 7 p.m. and the admission is a mere $3. What a price for live entertainment, and you better believe my wife and I will be back again in a week or two. Remember, it is improvisational play and each evening’s show will by definition be different.
The Angelus Theatre also fascinated us. It was built in 1912 by Joseph Hanson and given that name at the time. It burned in a fire in 1948 and was rebuilt in 1950 still carrying the name Angelus Theatre. Sometime in the 1980s, it was renamed the Main Street Movies. In 1996, it was purchased by Boothe Brothers Music and became the Boothe Brothers Performing Art Center. It has a seating capacity of 250 and has been used for concerts, recording sessions and live performances. Curt Gordon, an employee of Boothe Brothers Music since 1998, purchased the theater from the Boothes in February of 2016. He began a restoration project that is progressing as funds permit. In February 2017, the name was changed back to the Angelus Theatre to honor the original building. It continues as a performing art center and that is why they make it available on Tuesday nights to the Unstable Improv Troupe.
