REVIEW: TILT

Solo Chicken Productions joins the Hamilton Fringe from New Brunswick and brings with them TILT: a unique concept with a completely improvised technical design and impressive physical and comedic timing from its lead actors.

The scripted portion of TILT begins with Chris and Lee actively avoiding their marital problems and recognizing that there is a distance growing between them. Both, in separate asides, tell the audience of the more commonplace problems they’re having but the real issue is something neither can quite put into words. Then, the technician asks the audience for a secret that tears the couple apart. The rest becomes an improvised narrative to figure out if Chris and Lee can survive this life-altering, potentially relationship ending secret. 

Performed by charismatic creators Alex Rioux & Jean-Michel Cliche, both actors demonstrate an incredible ability to change things on the fly; listening and trusting one another all while providing the audience with  levity and delight. The show is also skillfully managed by Technical Improviser/Designer Georgia Priestley Brown who adds well-timed sound effects and projections to set and enhance each scene. The concept of TILT really impressed me as someone who sees a wonderful abundance of improv yearly and it’s great to see a twist (or tilt) in how these improv comedies can be performed.

A fun bonus? Each performance will feature a different guest artist joining Alex and Jean-Michel and will undoubtedly add to the chaos of their improvised narrative. It’s such a treat to see a refreshing take on improv comedy and these out-of-towners deserve huge audiences filling the Westdale venue with laughter. If you like relationship drama, secrets and fearless improvisational craftsmanship, be sure to check out TILT.

Alex Rioux & Jean-Michel Cliche