Headliners couldn’t get more switched on than our host, then in glittering sparkle red tails Andrew Denton tumbled in. Seemed we were in for it. Presented as the night the stars come out to play, and proudly sponsoring and fundraising for Canteen.

For me it was a particular treat, as my association as “once was a player” began many many eons ago. Embedded in every team were the royalty of the form. I did let out a laugh with Josie O’Reilly (herself an ingenious player) in her night’s role as timekeeper and host wrangler – keeping everything on track, in more ways than one. She did not know the game of Oscar Winning Moment – nonetheless went on to call the game by ‘improvising’ the moment’s when such an Oscar Winning moment might occur, as only she can.

The scores were high but the gaming was indeed glorious. The stakes were focused on the generosity of both the audience and the gamers in bringing a shining light onto the support for Canteen. Ronelle Knowles’ daughter Lily was one of the canteen ambassadors. Having lost her battle with cancer only months ago, Ronelle would have been proud of how firmly Lily shared the story of she and 3 siblings being supported by the charity.

The next we know we are doing the bucket collection for the most amazing monster raffle with so many items offered by each and every celebrity player. So, far beyond the time they gave – they really gave of themselves. Seems the audience felt the love and they did announce some $10,000 was raised from the raffle alone. 

Could there be more – yes there could. Another round of play and each team was offered a challenge by even more celebrity – Jay Laga’aia, Jennifer Byrne, Benita Collings and more offering live and audio recorded challenges for the next game. The audience was lapping it up – the squeals of fun. 

The event game’s structure and rallying took me way back to the Theatresports of a time before – when every team and player knew the purpose of what was still a craft of the audience enjoyment. Less a competition and much more a celebration of improvised performance. In the traditions that came from centuries old theatre – the comic artisans of the Commedia. If the scene needs it we all become the architects of action – and at one of the highest moments in the show almost to a person every teammate came on stage to elevate. I mean this quite literally (the team whose turn was challenged to not have a foot on the stage) up they went held high by their peers and up they kept the energy, engagement and fun!! Bravo team. Delightful entertainment and made all the more powerful for its purpose.

Impro Australia’s Celebrity Theatresports 2022 at the Enmore Theatre was performed on the afternoon of Sunday 21st August 2022

Featured image : Andrew Denton and Jennifer Byrne in Celebrity Theatresports. All pics by  Stephen Reinhardt.