This is a completely improvised show tailored to the style of iconic 90s sitcoms such as Friends, Seinfeld, and Frasier. In fact, the whole show starts with the Friends’ theme tune, “I’ll Be There For You”, and is set in front of a New York City background. The performers, of which there are three (Alex Keen, Rachel E. Thorn, and Hugh Clark), start off by asking the audience to shout out random words which they then turn into themes for each character to play along with.
This show’s unique themes were: the year 1066 (specifically, the battle of Hastings), Cats the musical, and hen do’s. This comedic trio are a wonderful team, bouncing off of each other’s energy, laughing at each other’s jokes, and feeding off audience reaction. Over the space of an hour, we are treated to two ‘episodes’ of Mates in which some members stick to the same themes and some of them switch, which is yet again decided by the audience. In the stories I got to see, Alex played a party bus driver and subsequently becoming a support therapist for one of his customers, Rachel created her own version of Cats the Musical called Dogs and moved to LA to star in it (she only makes it to Texas!), and Hugh tried to become president through a series of conquests.
The three performers jump between playing different characters in each other’s story lines, making it an extremely versatile and exciting performance. Nothing is taken too seriously, usually taking what idea has just popped into their heads and running with it. It is truly a treat to see these actors enjoying what they do. Performing.
Molly Reay
MATES: The Improvised 90s Sitcom, 19:10, The Queen Chamber at Just the Tonic at The Hive, 6th – 17th August
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/mates-the-improvised-90s-sitcom
