CUMTS and the Cambridge Impronauts are teaming up to present The Zero Hour Musical for the next three nights, and it is definitely something worth venturing to the ADC for. The entire musical is improvised as the name suggests and the performers are essentially winging it throughout. Initially, I was quite hesitant to see how this would work in a world of typically scripted Cambridge theatre. However it was brilliantly done and to such a high quality that it was unbelievable that it was being done on the spot.

After a little debate, it was decided by the audience that the musical would be set in the Bake-Off tent and called Soggy Bottoms. That was the premise for the rest of the show, and the material the cast had to work with. What followed was a funny, clever and smooth-running performance, filled with songs that had the theatre humming along to. Therefore, the content of each Zero Hour Musical this week will be completely different, so this review can only really apply to the opening night. Regardless, expect to be amazed by the unpredictability of the evening and embrace the strange musical concoction, whatever comes your way.

The cast was small and strong, working perfectly together as a whole. They performed as soloists, duets and altogether as an ensemble, which really brought out their individual talents, but also showed off their harmonies and abilities to pull off quite complex numbers as a unit. Particular mention must go to Amy Carmichael, who was utterly brilliant and had a voice that should be on the West End stage. The three-piece band also worked incredibly well with the cast, and once more I was rather stunned that the music that was filling up the ADC wasn’t pre-planned.

A musical mission improv-able?

I would have liked to see a little more of an audience influence beyond the setting and title, perhaps with certain characters or plot snippets that could be included at various points. That said, it was a fun-filled night and the skills to pull something like this off are pretty impeccable. The show finished with a standing ovation, and I am sure the quality will be maintained for the upcoming shows.  The night takes a leaf out of Whose Line Is It Anyway? and should be made a more regular thing in Cambridge theatre