After a Covid-imposed hiatus in 2021, the annual Basement Theatre Christmas show returned to Auckland this week – and this time, it’s fully improvised. The Spinoff was there to check out Sleigh on opening night.
Lots of laughs, even for the Christmas cynics
Much like my fellow Spinoffers writing below, I felt a sense of trepidation about something that was a) entirely improvised and b) allegedly very festive. I’m generally quite suspicious of Christmas cheer and prefer a dose of cynicism under the tree. Coupled with the threat of audience interaction, I was nervous. But, thrillingly, I was completely proven wrong!
Much like the best Christmas episode of your favourite TV show, the holiday setting did very little of the heavy lifting in Sleigh. It was used more as a punchline than an actual plot point. And the audience interaction was thankfully limited to a few amusing moments of yelling from those in the stalls.
Most importantly, Sleigh was genuinely very funny. Of course, it’s an improvised show so you’re going to have to trust my thoughts exclusively about the December 1 performance – but I laughed out loud consistently. The performers, most notably Brynley Stent, Janaye Henry and Rhiannon McCall, knew exactly how long to carry on a joke before it went stale and as such the pacing was note perfect. Storylines set in the most mundane of locations, like a Pagani store, somehow managed to fully pull me in. I would happily sit through a future scripted show starring the same collection of characters.
The second act saw the requisite celebrity guest introduced. They were used sparingly, though I think the “bit” was a little contrived compared to previous Basement Christmas shows.
Nevertheless – I laughed, I (observed someone who) cried, and I can safely say the annual Basement tradition is in incredibly safe hands.
– Stewart Sowman-Lund
No sharp edges, just sharp lines
To survive this year’s “what a year” landslide of feelings, I’ve instituted a strict “chill vibes only” policy for December.
Improvised comedy usually makes me extremely anxious. I don’t enjoy a show with audience participation. But I am happy for Sleigh to be my single exception to this rule. The show somehow manages to be very chill and super warm at the same time. The stakes are kept low and familiar and the usual aggressive posturing and showmanship required to lift a room, joyously absent. Sleigh is all women and from the minute Rhiannon McCall started her highly energetic but warm banter with the audience, I unclenched my jaw and felt instantly relaxed. Low stakes, chill vibes, warmth and familiarity aren’t effortless but at no time did the cast make it seem effortful. They trust each other and, perilously, instantly trust the audience to feed the storylines.
This all sounds super earnest for a show where I didn’t stop laughing for 90 minutes. Strangely I also sort of cried, utterly sucked into two ridiculous storylines about love in a trolley bay and neighbours on a mall escalator. There are special guest stars each night and I can guarantee no matter who you get when you go, you will not leave with that feeling of someone having been chucked under a bus and run over by the skilled cast.
Cannot recommend a better show to end this year on. No sharp edges, just sharp lines and the all too rare feeling of an entire room rooting for characters you didn’t know existed until you arrived but instantly recognise.
– Anna Rawhiti-Connell
Delightfully shambolic and totally hilarious
I’m obsessed with Christmas. I love the lights, the songs, the polystyrene present displays in Farmers. Give me all things Christmas and it will never be enough. Usually I’m itching to get the festive season going as soon as the last Halloween cobwebs are swept away, but for some reason I’ve felt a distinct lack of yuletide joy in 2022. Until last night.
Last night the women of Sleigh thrust me through the doors of the Basement Theatre and into the chaos of Christmas Eve at a suburban mall, unleashing my festive cheer in the process. The improv was delightfully shambolic, totally hilarious and completely rammed with Christmas clichés.
For the shy amongst us, you’ll be pleased to know Sleigh asks for just the right amount of audience participation to make you feel part of the fun without the threat of being shamed out. I’m already marking the annual Basement Christmas Show on the calendar for next year, because I can’t think of a better way to kick off the silly season than by sharing genuine belly laughs with a room full of strangers.
– Jane Yee
What’s more Christmas-y than chaos?
Despite being a Christmas institution for many Aucklanders, I’ll admit, I’ve never actually been to a Basement Christmas show before (I know, shame on me). What is my Christmas ritual then? It’s the mall. And so I felt right at home when this year’s all-women comedy cast and celebrity guest transported us straight to the unravelling chaos of the mall on Christmas Eve.
What ensued was 90-minutes of improvised havoc at Pagani, on the elevator, at the Fresh Choice trolley bay and in the mall manager’s office. And while improv comedy and audience interaction might sound like the absolute pits for some, the cast managed to pull the whole night off without any of the discomfort or cringe that can so easily accompany that.
Instead, the room felt energised and abuzz with giggles and supportive cheers. At times, my chortles competed with feeling genuinely moved, near teary. Amongst the absurd situations the characters found themselves in, lifelong friendships were made at Pagani, unrequited love was expressed among trolleys and Christmas cheer abounded. After all – what’s more Christmas-y than chaos?
– Charlotte Muru-Lanning