Austentatious

Review by Brad

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Austentatious, the improvised comedy show set to a ‘long lost’ (hilariously made-up) Jane Austen novel is exactly how it sounds. Genius.

Last night’s performance at the Vaudeville Theatre was no exception. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s legacy, Mel Giedroyc guest starred as a gender-bending, at times seemingly inebriated, power-hungry “Uber Admiral” (an Admiral with 2 hats). Yes. That's the kind of madness you can expect.

The core company is exceptional, maintaining their high-status 19th-century characters while juggling an increasingly absurd plot. Their command of the Regency era vernacular is pitch-perfect, leading to some truly glorious verbal sparring. You can see how much fun they have with one another, and ultimately feel how much trust they have in each other.

The troupe's real skill lies in their ability to seamlessly weave together a surprisingly intricate and satisfying story from the total madness that unfolds throughout the night. Having seen the show several times now, not once have I left feeling they dropped the ball of any storyline or character potential. They are masterful improvisers, working only in “yes, and” (even when distant relatives decide to confess their undying love…after all, aren't we all cousins in Regency Era England?)

Austentatious remains one of the freshest and most hilarious shows on the London stage. It’s a riotous, joyful celebration of storytelling, and last night, with a guest as game and hilarious as Mel Giedroyc, it was unbridled joy.