Uncalled For @ Montreal Fringe: local improv troupe to present ‘The Trial of the Century’

This year’s Fringe Festival will be the end of an era. Uncalled For, the award-winning improv troupe that has been mainstay of the Montreal Fringe Festival for nine years, will be moving on to greener and more hilarious pastures after they put on The Trial of the Century: a totally improvised courtroom comedy-melodrama that will boast all that is archaic and ridiculous.

When most people think improv, the most likely thing to come to mind is improv games as seen on retired TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway? Over the years, however, Uncalled For – comprised of core members Dan Jeannotte, Matt Goldberg and Anders Yates – evolved from the short-form improv games to long-form improvised plays, allowing them the freedom to further develop the characters they’ve invented on the spot.

“We’ve been playing together for 11 years so we’re almost part of each others’ minds. I know where Matt’s going to go when he starts playing a certain character. You sync up with the person, like best friends who finish each other’s sentences,” Dan says. “When it works best,” Matt continues, “it feels like you’re just hanging out with Uncalled For in our basement and we’re all best friends.”

TRIAL BY FIRE
The seamless way the troupe works together on stage is a big part of what sets them apart, has taken them to festivals across the country and has also landed them hosting gigs for Montreal Fringe – in particular, their annual hosting of the festival’s notorious all-night after party called The 13th Hour. Since Uncalled For has become such a fixture of the festival, they are hopeful that the void they leave will be swiftly filled by the other promising local comedians they’ve worked and played with over the years.

“We love doing the Fringe, that’s where we got started, but we want to try getting out there – try moving to new markets, new cities, trying new festivals and refocusing our energy,” Matt says. “We’ll always be supporters of the Montreal Fringe Fest, and Fringe festivals across Canada, but we want to take some time and really try to get out there.”

 Before they go, the guys have their hearts set on making this their best show yet. The Trial of the Century will include guest stars like local comedienne Kirsten Rasmussen and Toronto improviser Colin Munch as the “defendants”, while Dan, Matt and Anders play the judge, prosecution and defense. Naturally, the audience will serve as the jury.

“It’s going to be like the best episodes of Law & Order: completely ridiculous,” says Matt. “It’s just a send-up of this format that I think we all know so well, that is built into our consciousness.”

Uncalled For presents: Trial of the Century
At the Montreal Fringe Fest
June 11 to 18 | Cabaret du Mile End | 5240 du Parc 
uncalledforimprov.com | montrealfringe.ca