For those that remember the popular Channel 4 TV show, Whose Line Is It Anyway? are in for a treat, as the show has returned to London’s West End for a limited 12 night run from 9th June 2016.
The original creators Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson are once again working with regulars from the hit show which ran from 1989 to 1998. Clive Anderson, Jeff Davis, Brad Sherwood, Greg Proops, Josie Lawrence and Colin Mochrie are back with more comedy moments than ever before – right in front of your very eyes. Audiences are guaranteed to experience a unique and different show every single evening – and they did just that!
Despite the show being more than 25 years old, it is just as fresh and exciting than ever before and will have you belly laughing uncontrollably all the way throughout. I came out of the London Palladium feeling as though I had gone through an ultimate stomach workout!
For those who are unfamiliar with the show, Whose Line Is It Anyway? appeared on TV screens back in 1988 involving Clive Anderson hosting a panel of comedians who would compete in a variety of improvisation games. As the show would involve suggestions from the audience, this meant they had to think on the spot – resulting in some hilarious comedy moments.
Clive Anderson hosted the show at the London Palladium, sitting behind his desk, with plenty of his dry wit and tongue in cheek comments about the state of current affairs in the UK and abroad.
Just before the interval hit, the audience were treated to a camp cabaret in the style of a bricklayer – not something you’ll possibly ever hear of again, but they made it work. The audience roared with laughter and applause as the last note was sung by the delightful Josie Lawrence and the rest of the gang.
Other delights of the evening included songs about a dead neighbours cat, a scene involving two very eager audience members providing sound effects to a Bond scene, (albeit one of them was a tad inebriated!). My personal favourite came at the end of the show in which Anderson challenged them to sing about an audience members job as a Marine Parachutist in the style of Les Miserables! Classic comedy gold, adding a theatrical element too!
After nearly three decades it shows they still have what it takes, the chemistry between them worked fantastically well and it had the audience chanting for more. The crowd loved every second of this show, and they took great delight in providing Anderson with many laughs and suggestions for games they should play, including the infamous hoe down! It still remains a very funny and current show after all of these years – such a delight to see.
Reviewed by Sam Harler
Whose Line Is It Anyway? plays at the London Palladium until 19th June
