Girls with the gift of gab.
Female funny fluctuations of flippancy. Women whacking wits with exuberance.
That last word was not alliteration. Just keeping you in your toes. Off balance. Improvising.
Improv Schmimprov is a comedy group in Prince George, and it is a mixed group in almost every sense, but they are spotlighting creative diversity by focusing on a singular gender for one night only.
The Improv Schmimprov Ladies Show promises a unique cast configuration but the same old sharp tongues and nimble minds that this comedy company always brings.
"There is so much going on right now for women in film, women in comedy, women writing and directing, so we're doing our part in Prince George," said Sabrina Mori, one of the performers in the upcoming show. "The amount of women you'd see on the comedy stage has been a token one or two. We can turn that around, right here in Prince George, with a show of female force."
The co-founder of Improv Schmimprov was concerned by a past diversity imbalance. Steph St. Laurant was a staunch advocate for Ladies Show as a step towards encouraging more women in comedy and the performing arts.
"I haven't heard of an all female troupe, at least up north," said
St. Laurent. "I noticed that over the years that we tended to have more men involved than women. Actually, I noticed that about all of the troups I've seen and was considering some of the factors of why that might be."
There were females in the cast that youth, potential performers and audiences could all look up to, and look to as leaders. If the troupe acted now, it would be an investment in the whole community's future. Many of these cast members are also involved in other creative endeavors in the area, so the effect is amplified.
"The ladies have really been the backbone of making it happen," St. Laurent said.
The cast includes Vivian Johnson, Michelle Frechette, Eve Ghostkeeper, and Kenna Latimer-Jonkman. They were assembled from actors and comedians who had been involved with past Improv Schmimprov shows or the predecessor troupe Improv Ad Nauseum. Some are new to performance in general while others are veterans of local drama, music and comedy.
"My parents have been bringing me to see improv shows since I was probably eight years old," said Mori. "I joined in when I was 18, and it was disappointing for me when (Improv Ad Nauseum) came to a close, so I definitely wanted to jump back in when Steph got the new group going."
She's 21 now, and well on her way to a long credits list. "I definitely enjoyed theatre when I was in high school and I enjoy being the centre of attention, haha. I graduated early because I didn't enjoy the rest of that school crap. Theatrey stuff, though..."
The troupe doubled down on the female performance value by calling in an opening act. Who better to represent multi-talented female performing artists who have been emblematically underestimated than Hollywood screen siren Marilyn Monroe?
Acclaimed actor/singer Kat Fullerton portrays Monroe in a recurring act she calls Forever Marilyn, and as such will start off the night of entertainment.
"That was the icing on the cake for me," said Mori. "I've seen Kat's performance of Marilyn a couple of times, she is just amazing, so I'm even more excited, now that I know she's opening for us."
"I was thrilled to be asked," said Fullerton. "They usually have a comedian or musician open the show and I'm a blend of those two things. I have an extensive background in improv as well, so I was happy to connect with some like-minded artists here in town."
Fullerton dresses the Marilyn part impeccably and uses her acting skills to draw out the Monroe personality. She sings the songs Monroe sang, and intersperses jokes and anecdotes as though we were watching the late, great silver screen legend.
"I want to honour her memory and help dispel a lot of misconceptions people have about Marilyn," Fullerton said. "She is perceived as a vapid blonde who used her sexuality to achieve fame but she was actually an incredibly talented, hard-working woman who fought to be taken seriously as an actress. She's my own personal hero and absolutely a feminist icon."
She and Mori are excited to see the audience reaction to this rare night of performance.
"It's so important for women to lift each other up and support each other not just in the arts, but in all aspects of life," Fullerton said.
"Everyone has different skills and viewpoints to bring to the table, and there's always something new to learn. Collaboration is the new competition."
Improv Schmimprov Ladies Show happens Saturday night,
8 p.m. at Artspace. Tickets are on sale now at the Books & Company front desk for $10 in advance or $15 at the door. There will be a cash bar and adult themes.
