METRMAG Spotlight On: Improv masters Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood return to the Hanover Theatre in "Asking for Trouble" (Worcester, MA.)
(Cover Photo: COLIN MOCHRIE and BRAD SHERWOOD. Photo courtesy of colinandbradshow.com)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
METRMAG Spotlight On: Improv masters Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood return to the Hanover Theatre in "ASKING FOR TROUBLE"
The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts
Presents
"COLIN MOCHRIE AND BRAD SHERWOOD: ASKING FOR TROUBLE"
One Night Only!
Performance:
April 26, 2025 at 7:30pm
Presented at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge Street, Worcester, MA.
TICKETS:
Tickets are $41, $51, $61 and $71 depending on seat location. Save on handling fees in person at The Hanover Theatre box office. Contact the box office at 877-571-7469 or email info@thehanovertheatre.org for more information.
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Photo: COLIN MOCHRIE and BRAD SHERWOOD. Photo courtesy of colinandbradshow.com)
METRMAG Spotlight On: Improv masters Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood return to the Hanover Theatre in "ASKING FOR TROUBLE"
Along with his partner, BRAD SHERWOOD, COLIN MOCHRIE will bring his impeccably crafted improvisational skills back to the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. on April 26th and, with improv, one never knows exactly what to expect - with the exception of an evening filled with laughter.
Like so many, I watched “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” since it was a staple show during the early Comedy Central days in the 90s.
Comedy Central rebroadcast the original BBC shows on which both men appeared, long before Drew Carey began hosting it for ABC in the 90s and decades before the recently ended CW Network edition, hosted by Aisha Tyler.
COLIN MOCHRIE and BRAD SHERWOOD are now touring the country together with their acclaimed improv show "ASKING FOR TROUBLE."
The improv partners previously brought their acclaimed improv show "SCARED SCRIPTLESS" to the Hanover Theatre multiple times before (including in 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2023).
"It's always nice to be asked to come back to places where we’ve performed before and play to people who want to see us again," MOCHRIE said during our previous 2023 METRMag interview.
But just how will "ASKING FOR TROUBLE" be different from "SCARED SCRIPTLESS?"
"We’ve added some new games." MOCHRIE responds adding, "Also, during our second half, we do a musical tribute to Worcester...which is interesting...since only ONE of us can sing."
Which member of the duo can sing?
Well, for those readers who never caught either of the two performers on featured episodes of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” I guess you'll just have to see the Hanover Theatre show to find out.
(Photo: COLIN MOCHRIE. Photo courtesy of Jonas Public Relations)
According to his bio, COLIN MOCHRIE was born in Scotland, the oldest of three children.
While it might be hard to imagine. MOCHRIE was stated to be "shy as a child."
In 1964, the MOCHRIE family emigrated to Canada, first living in Montreal, Quebec then in Vancouver, British Columbia.
In later years, before joining Toronto's legendary Second City troupe, around 1980, MOCHRIE could be seen performing improv as part of the “Vancouver TheatreSports League.”
MOCHRIE was once quoted as saying he "literally had to pull people out of McDonald's to come see the shows."
MOCHRIE landed a spot on the UK version of “Whose Line...” which ran for nearly a decade.
Below is a clip of MOCHRIE'S first time working with long time "Whose Line..." cast mate, Ryan Stiles.
Almost immediately as the UK incarnation ended, in 1998, MOCHRIE began taping the US version of the show.
The Drew Carey-hosted incarnation of the show ran for another eight sidesplitting seasons.
From the latest tour's website, BRAD SHERWOOD's amusing bio recalls how he "fled the ice plains of Chicago for the arid expanse of the Rocky Mountains..."
As the bio continues, it states how veteran improviser SHERWOOD was "eventually, sold to a British improv TV show, where he was hired to teach Canadians how to be funny."
"Now, he is ward and caretaker of his least successful pupil, COLIN MOCHRIE. BRAD is given a stipend from the Canadian government to keep COLIN from hurting himself or livestock. As part of COLIN's therapy, BRAD tours with him in an improvised stage performance that helps creatively channel MOCHRIE's delusions."
In actuality, in addition to his winning many notable awards, COLIN MOCHRIE's career as a performer includes Canada’s John Candy Award for Excellence in Comedy.
There is no question MOCHRIE is an improvisational master – even when there is no dialogue involved.
In some of the segments of “Whose Line...,” MOCHRIE doesn’t even say a word, like during “Sound Effects” where, for our readers, MOCHRIE is given a premise and, while another actor feeds MOCHRIE the sound effects, MOCHRIE enacts the scene.
Below is a sampling of the "Sound Effects" game.
All the games as seen on "Whose Line..." have actually been around for years even prior to the show's original premiere.
In the new tour "ASKING FOR TROUBLE," MOCHRIE emphasizes that, while some games will be familiar to audiences, there are also some new games which they can look forward to, as well.
"We have a new game where BRAD and I are this 'two-headed smartest person in the world' and we answer questions from the audience, while speaking one word at a time or speaking together as one voice."
Be it with SHERWOOD now on tour or with members of the "Whose Line..." cast or beyond the show, just how important is that relationship, that “connection,” with MOCHRIE and his various scene partners?
"Absolutely incredibly important," says MOCHRIE. "With Ryan (Stiles), you know, we've been at this for over 40 years, and with BRAD SHERWOOD it has been over 30 years. There’s definitely that trust we have where we can look each other in the eye and say, 'Listen, I don’t know where you are going with this (whatever 'this' is) but we’ll find out together.'"
"Working with improvisers gets me back to the art and essentials of listening and supporting – which is good, good for me," MOCHRIE says. "People put egos aside and work toward a greater good. I have always been fortunate to be around such great improvisers and I hope that continues."
During our prior interview in 2023, MOCHRIE stated "When you watch improv, you are watching the inner thoughts of everyone on stage. We learn from it. Great improv is relatable. We recognize things in it. Everything we do in an improv scene is pulled from real life – everything we’ve read, everything we’ve experienced."
Audiences coming to the show should be prepared with questions/suggestions and also be ready to participate in a few of the hilarious improv segments.
Since the duo began "ASKING FOR TROUBLE" MOCHRIE recalls some highlights with audience volunteers in which the volunteer participation went slightly askew.
"We've been doing this awhile and pretty much anytime BRAD and I are performing (improv) together, we’ve got a 50/50 chance of things going smoothly," MOCHRIE says. "But it is a complete different thing when you involve a volunteer."
"The lights are very bright on stage, which can throw someone off at first until their eyes have had a chance to adjust," MOCHRIE explains. "So, it is up to BRAD and myself to keep everybody calm and to make sure everyone on stage and in the audience has a good time."
MOCHRIE cites an example with an improv game called "Moving Bodies" in which volunteer audience members are brought up on stage to physically help move the bodies of MOCHRIE and SHERWOOD.
"There was this one person," MOCHRIE recalls, "Well, we explained the whole 'Moving Bodies' game to them, but they didn’t really 'get' what their role was in the game. So, BRAD wound up offstage waiting for this person to come help move him for a couple of minutes - which is a really long time to wait. We also have had a number of people who have come up on stage with us to assist in the 'Props' game...and have no understanding of what the actual 'props' might be."
For "ASKING FOR TROUBLE," part of the ongoing success of this latest partnership outing between MOCHRIE and SHERWOOD, at least according to MOCHRIE, is what SHERWOOD brings to the tour.
"BRAD is good at being irritating - which is a good thing - because he always brings up conflict, MOCHRIE says, elaborating. "BRAD is a very verbal improviser while I was made, well, 'differently.' He loves and is strong at the more straightforward narration and staying on track - and for us and for what we do, so far, it has worked."
"ASKING FOR TROUBLE" with BRAD SHERWOOD and COLIN MOCHRIE hits the stage at The Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. on April 26, 2025 at 7:30pm.
Tickets start at $41. Dates and pricing subject to change without notice. Contact the box office at # 877-571-7469 for more information.
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Approximate run time two hours, 30 min with one intermission
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
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ABOUT THE SHOW
Comedians BRAD SHERWOOD and COLIN MOCHRIE take to the live stage to create hilarious and original scenes in their two-man show.
Armed with only their wits, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” veteran improvisers SHERWOOD and MOCHRIE are taking to the live stage and they’re…"ASKING FOR TROUBLE."
Prepare to laugh yourself senseless as improv comedy masterminds SHERWOOD and MOCHRIE must make up original scenes, songs and more from whatever you, the fans, suggest!
You just might also get to join in on the fun on stage.
It’s a hilarious comedic high wire act… just like a live version of “Whose Line...”
How the heck do they do it?
We don’t know either!
Don’t miss the best duo in improv just "ASKING FOR TROUBLE."
Plan for a night of non-stop laughter for ages 12 and up!
Approximately two hours, 30 minutes with one intermission
Please contact the box office at 877-571-SHOW (7469) for more information.
BUY TICKETS
ABOUT HANOVER THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Worcester Center for Performing Arts is a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which owns and operates The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
HANOVER THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
2 Southbridge Street
Worcester, MA. 01608
# 877-571-SHOW (7469)
