Review: Impro Theatre’s improvised “The Psychology of Horror”

According to its website, Impro Theatre “creates completely improvised, full-length plays in the styles of the world’s greatest playwrights, authors and composers… They combine verbal dexterity and robust physicality to bring character and plot to life in an instant, making each Impro Theatre show unique and unlike any other theatrical experience.”

On Aug. 9, Impro Theatre staged an improvised performance of “The Psychology of Horror” in its intimate black box theatre, a setting that immediately makes one feel part of the action. The night started off with seven actors asking the audience for classic horror tropes to help jumpstart their improv performance. In just a couple of minutes, suggestions like “being chased and falling,” “getting lost in the woods” and “losing cell service” set the stage for the evening. Once loaded with these ideas, the cast ran offstage, reemerged and dove headfirst into the improvised chaos.

Impro Theatre cast members (Image courtesy Impro Theatre)

The ensemble’s energy was infectious. Each performer added their own flavor and committed fully to the given circumstances, making it easy to invest in the unfolding scenes. Their ability to play off one another created space for everyone to shine, and many of the actors took on multiple roles throughout the show, keeping the momentum fresh and unpredictable. Even with the minimalism of the black-box space, they built worlds out of chairs, large apple boxes and even their own bodies — at one point, an actor became a carpet.

The technical side of the performance was unexpectedly impressive. With just one person handling both audio and lighting, the timing and precision of cues elevated the show’s comedic and atmospheric beats. One standout moment involved sound effects of guts spilling from an actor’s stomach — a gag that was already funny on its own but became hysterical when paired with the actor’s commitment.

The show wrapped up after around forty-five minutes, which honestly left me wanting more. The “Psychology of Horror” was my first spooky improv experience that I didn’t realize I needed. With Halloween right around the corner, I’m already curious to see what twisted, spooky stories they’ll conjure up next.

Impro Theatre is located at 1727 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. For current and future improvised shows, visit ImproTheatre.com.