Lucy the Gorilla (aka Brian Anderson adorned in an ape suit) lurking around in a tutu is reason enough to visit Vancouver TheatreSports League’s Gorilla Theatre. Throwing together a cast of five uniquely talented comedians, the kicker of the show is of course the furry primate handing out bananas as points to the best comedic directors (chosen by the audience shouting “FORFEIT!” or “BANANA!”). Try not to snort out your beer in hyena-like laughter.

One of the coolest date-night ideas in YVR this season, Gorilla Theatre (and any of the other weekly improv events) offers an interactive component to the run-of-the-mill comedy show. The audience, arguably the 6th member of the improv team, determines the best performances of the evening. With each scene directed by one of the actors, the ultimate goal is to win the audience’s approval with scenarios that are creative, entertaining, and, ultimately, lead you to a state of euphoric laughter that rivals a jungle creature.

A few of the many memorable moments of last week’s opening gala on Thursday, April 24th, hosted by the charming Michael Teigen: Taz VanRassel and Nathan Clark playing twin kid brothers who steal their parents’ Winnebago and suddenly can only speak muddled Japanese (kudos to Director Graeme Duffy, who clearly won a fair share of bananas for that one); Denise Jones’ entertaining Kesha-like dance-off and her directorial scene of a sassy Lucy the Gorilla on a blind date with a petrified Nathan Clark; and the howling laughter and infectious energy of Margret Nyfors, who had an obsession with tying in romantically cheesy soundtracks with emotional Oscar-worthy finales to each of her scenes. A special shout-out to the audience member who did in fact shrill like a hyena from the 3rd row – we enjoyed you, too.