As we waited for the show to begin, the haunting strumming of a guitar playing ‘The Sound of Silence’ sets the mood for this American mid-West show. ImprompTwo, or Kathy and Joe Rinaldi have a passion for narrative improv, which brings another dimension to the festival. Set at a time when Word War II is over, brother and sister Bobbie (Kathy Rinaldi) and Jack (Joe Rinaldi) are trying to keep the family farm running. Jack sits outside a daybreak, it is his favourite time as the sun starts to rise, and he dreams of a day when everything will come together.
This brother and sister team manage the farm together, but they are under the threat of the Government taking their farm from them, and after their father fought two World Wars, and Jack fought in World War II, they are loathe to let the Government take away their home, that Bobbie fought to keep hold of. The closeness of the couple performing is evident as their natural bond shines through into their performance. Kathy plays Bobbie, the feisty sister who stayed at home and ran the farm when Jack was away and is very able to take care of herself. Jack, is tired of fighting, and Joe Rinaldi shows a sensitivity to the feelings of a man like Jack, who came home to recover from the war, only to find that he now needs to fight his own Government, to keep hold of his home.
There are comedic moments in the show, with Bobbie and her chickens who she wishes to name, but Jack warns her that she will never wish to eat them if they have names. As the dreaded day of the tractors coming to take their land arrives, Bobbie knows that the time for Jack trying to talk their way out of this is over, and it is time to do something – ‘you have the choice between a twelve-gauge shotgun or some really fine hooch’!
The final scene accentuates their talent, as they bring the scene to a close with their monologues to their parents, it is touching as Jack promises their dead daddy, that they will not go down without a fight!
This narrative style of improv is something that is less common and did have me questioning whether this can really be considered as improvisation, but the two performers make up the scenarios on the spot, each challenging each other with an ask, and they are so good at reading each other, that it appears to be fluid.
ImprompTwo are utterly charming, and they weave a very interesting tale, which is sentimental and endearing.
Reviewer: Caroline Worswick
Reviewed: 26th April 2025
North West End UK Rating: