Comedy review: The Improv Centre gets bloody hilarious in I Know What You Did Last Weekend
The slasher-flick tribute features top-notch teamwork, unhinged characters, and even a few genuine jump scares
(From left) Caitlin Maira, Allen Morrison, Cameron Grant, Helen Camisa, and Maddy Rafter in I Know What You Did Last Weekend.
The Improv Centre presents I Know What You Did Last Weekend until November 1
THE ICONIC TEEN SLASHER flick I Know What You Did Last Summer is a hallmark of ’90s pop culture, and its sequels and iterations prove it still resonates across generations. Case in point: it makes a fantastic vehicle for The Improv Centre’s fall marquee show, I Know What You Did Last Weekend, just in time for Halloween. If you’re looking for a wacky, upbeat night of comedy with a nod to ’90s teen horror, this show is for you—if you’re up for a scream!
Right from the start, the two-act improv show leans playfully into its theme. The poster alone sets the tone: the infamous hooded killer wields a hook—but also in the image is a rubber chicken as a cheeky hint that laughs are coming. When the production begins, the narrator’s voiceover mirrors the villain’s menacing phone calls in the Scream franchise, immediately setting the scene.
The six-member cast kicks things off by asking the audience for three suggestions: a murder weapon, a location, and a time of day. Regulars at improv shows know these games are a hoot, and even when audience suggestions are tame—like an apple, a coffee shop, and noon—the ensemble wrings every ounce of comedy from them. From there, the performers reveal that one character has died under these absurd circumstances, with flashbacks unraveling the week leading up to the murder.
Audience participation continues as actors ask for defining traits for their characters, yielding hilarious results: Will Vaughan’s “Billy,” a rich kid from old money, secretly wants to be a pharmacist; Alex Gullason’s “Madonna” can’t go to law school because she still wets the bed; and Jackie Gunn’s “Barbara” has no idea how the internet works. Through Theatresports-style games, the performers improvise scenes that flesh out these quirks, from Madonna’s law-school dreams getting derailed by Clause 3 of the “Declaration of Independence”, which forbids bed-wetting, to revealing Billy’s gateway into the pharmaceutical profession: pushing M&Ms and Smarties.
With their quick wit and excellent comedic skills, members of the cast were superb at diving into each zany scenario, while reining everything in to follow the story. At the end of Act 1, the actors collectively sparked off one hilarious idea after another to make the impending murder happen, ending with a cliffhanger.
Act 2 is when the slasher-flick ideas come into play, and on the night this show was reviewed, Jacki Gunn was phenomenal as the designated “murder” victim, evoking all the unhinged derangement we’ve come to know and love from these types of characters. She even conjured what appeared to be some genuine jump scares from her fellow actors.
One of the impressive qualities of The Improv Centre’s troupe is the strength of its teamwork. Yes, the actors are quick on their feet and funny, but it also takes top-notch, instinctive collaboration to pull together an ensemble effort like this. While they reserve the right to filter audience suggestions to ensure a smooth performance, once suggestions are accepted, the actors fearlessly roll with them, always ready to incorporate whatever other suggestions the cast spontaneously add. The team members always have each other’s back, never leaving a performer hanging—a relief both to the audience and the cast. All of this is a testament to the leadership of outgoing artistic director Jalen Saip, who will be departing to begin new life adventures with her family.
Each performance of I Know What You Did Last Weekend is unique, with a rotating cast and a different murder victim each night. But one thing is sure to stay consistent: razor-sharp wit and “off the hook” comedy. The show is a scream—and a laugh—from start to finish. The Improv Centre proves once again that when it comes to improvisatinal comedy, it's a cut above—hook and all!
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