What I liked
I love that the Penny Stinkers don’t go for cheap jokes and aren’t looking for laughs onstage. Every laugh and applause from the audience was organic and well deserved. Their sense of humor is intellectual, and the knowledge that all three of them possess about history, art, theatre, literature, and pop culture is impressive. The way they incorporate these elements into their improv technique gives them a style that’s uniquely their own and makes them a delight to watch.
What I didn't like
I genuinely would love to see more! At times scenes would be cut a bit early and it would’ve been nice to see them fully resolve the story they created in that scene, but there’s time constraints that come with Fringe. As someone who’s seen them perform many times, it would be cool to see them do a longer form show of their famous Shakespeare, Broadway musical, or Changes scenes where they can really show off their improvisational and storytelling abilities. I also think a show with an overarching theme would be fun to see!
My overall impression
Penny Stinkers Improv defies every bias and assumption you may have about improv. They don’t just do improv as a hobby or to “be funny”, they are a trio of well trained, dedicated improvisational artists, and their intelligence and passion for improv as an art form is palpable the moment they step on stage. You will certainly laugh when you attend one of their shows, but more importantly you will be inspired by the creativity and storytelling techniques that unfold in each improvised scene.
