Acting is not an easy job. I’ve seen plenty of shows that prove just how much work it takes. Whether it’s a big musical or a small play, actors spend countless hours preparing for opening night—learning lines, figuring out blocking, dealing with costumes and props, and everything in between. Now imagine those same actors stepping onstage for 70 minutes without knowing what they’re going to say or do, or even how the show will end. That’s an entirely different challenge, and it’s one every serious actor should try at least once in his/her/their career.
Bad Dog Theatre has put together an immensely talented troupe of five skilled, quick-thinking actors, now on stage at Toronto’s Factory Theatre with Holiday – An Improvised Musical! These performers are completely tuned in—every look, every breath, every pause feeds what unfolds onstage. Aside from the opening song, everything you see is made up in the moment.
The show kicks off with a suggestion from the audience—Whose Line Is It Anyway? Fans will feel right at home—but that’s where the comparison ends. This isn’t a string of disconnected skits; it’s a complete, themed show with a (knowingly ridiculous) storyline. That single suggestion is folded into the chaos of an improvised corporate holiday party, where a parade of questionable coworkers arrive, form wild and kooky relationships, and tumble into increasingly absurd situations before bursting into completely made-up songs, duets, and solos—thankfully backed by a very game, very live pianist.
The spontaneous humour is exactly what’s needed on a dark winter night, and it’s impossible not to marvel at the performers pulling it off. Improv may look easy, but it’s anything but. These seasoned improvisers are juggling instant creativity, emotional chemistry, teamwork, and sheer bravery, all while pretending this was the plan all along. No wonder improv is so respected—and why even the pros will tell you it never actually gets easier, just more trusting.
This comedic cadre certainly makes it look easy. Dressed in everyday clothes, they sit casually at the back of the stage, hopping in and out of scenes as if they’ve just wandered into the wrong holiday party. Kyah Green anchors the chaos as Bobby, the tightly wound organizer at the centre of the seasonal silliness, desperately trying to make sure everything is just so. Enter Trevor Martin, who suddenly realizes he’s Bobby’s partner—apparently news to both of them.
Things only get stranger when the delightfully flighty Nadine Djoury and the deliciously off-centre Stephanie Malek arrive, somehow managing to be both vegetarians and meat-lovers at the same time. Brandon Hackett rounds things out as an endlessly affable meat-delivery man, complete with an invisible pet falcon perched on his arm. You can probably guess where this is going—and you’d still be wrong.
This quirky quintet is backed by uber–music director Scott Christian on keyboards, who casually whips up ballads, love songs, jaunty jigs, and soaring solos on the spot. Half the fun is watching the cast invent lyrics that often make absolutely no sense, yet somehow still manage to push the story forward. That alone feels like a holiday miracle.
The real brilliance of a show like this is that you could come back every night and never see the same performance twice—so if you can, go again. It won’t be the show I’m reviewing here, but chances are you’ll have just as much fun. As director Jan Caruana notes in the program, experiencing extemporaneous entertainment like this can make your “soul a little lighter… your smile a little brighter.”
After spending time with this delightfully unpredictable holiday party, it’s hard to argue with that.
Running time, approx. 70 minutes with no intermission
The production runs until December 20 at the Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst St., Toronto.
For tickets, call the Box Office at 416-505-9971 or www.factorytheatre.ca
Bad Dog Theatre Productions Presents “Holiday! – An Improvised Musical”
Produced by Stephanie Malek
Created and directed by Jan Caruana
Composed (on the spot) by Scott Christian
Performers: Brandon Hackett, Kyah Green, Nadine Djoury, Stephanie Malek, Trevor Martin,
