Last weekend I was invited to attend a concert by Canto-pop duo "Twins". That same weekend, I also went to see the hilarious improvised musical "Showstopper" put on by a very talented group of improv comedians and singers from the UK. Those who are familiar with both performance groups will be able to imagine how completely different the two experiences must have been. However, despite the obvious differences between Canto-pop and British improv comedy, it occurred to me that some of the feelings I got as a result of experiencing both performances were somewhat similar.
Although, admittedly, I am not at all familiar with Twins songs or any of the work that they do, when the lights dimmed at the Coliseum (where the concert was held), and the cheers of the crowd rose up through the hall, and the multi-coloured neon glow sticks began to shake as if entirely on their own, the sense of anticipation was so palpable that even I found myself unconsciously leaning forward and scanning the stage for signs of movement. Such is the power of the stage. No matter who we are, where we are, or the kind of music we're into, there is nothing quite like that special moment right before a show is about to begin. There is something about the sweeping hush of the audience, the dimming of the lights and those agonisingly long few seconds before a performer steps onto the stage that seems to hold us captive whether we like it or not. We become like children, obeying the commands of the theatre in the same way children almost ALWAYS obey when you say to them "I have a surprise for you! Now, close your eyes, put your hands out and don't peek!" Perhaps this "moment-before-a-show" is where the performer/audience relationship is first established, since it is in that moment that both the audience and the performers who are about to come on stage will share the same feelings of anticipation. And perhaps the success of a show is measured on how long this performer/audience relationship can be maintained....
In "Showstopper!", a group of actors improvise an entire musical based solely on suggestions given by the audience on the night of the show. In this way, no two shows are ever alike and the performers never know what they'll be singing about even when the show begins. Throughout almost the entire performance, I found myself on the edge of my seat. I was in a constant state of "What's going to happen next? What are they going to sing about now? Are they going to be able to pull it off?" that I could hardly relax. I enjoyed every minute of it. I was, yet again, held captive in the same way that I was at the very beginning of the Twins concert, the difference being that Showstopper!, I must admit, was more successful in keeping me captive throughout the entire show. In fact, Showstopper! was so successful, that it managed to keep me and my friends in a state of "captivity" even AFTER the show had ended as we all found ourselves humming the tunes that were made up by the actors as we were leaving the theatre. I just love the infectious energy of musical theatre!
Regardless of what show it is that I'm watching and whether I'm familiar with the performers or not, I know that as long as it's live, there will always be that undeniable thrill of experiencing something that will never be performed in the exactly the same way ever again. For this reason, I have a healthy respect for live performances and even more respect for artists who have the ability to do them well.
