Highlighting the 13th Annual Florida Studio Theater “Improv Festival”, after its COVID-related absence since 2019, British Will Naameh performed as star improvisor MC Hammersmith on the last Festival day, at 4 and 9 p.m. Basically a rapper, he accomplished also a few variations on his signature freestyle creation and delivery.
Surrounded by pix of Tube signs of the London Hammersmith platform, Naameh/MC Hammersmith at first seemed indeed like an announcer. Clutching his microphone, he called out seriously, often glancing at what seemed to be a computerized piece of a schedule or program on a table at his side. It is no wonder he had said in an earlier interview that he comes on looking like a manager or a teacher.
Soon the session became full of asking for suggestions and making jokes or building a routine about them. One neat bit involved seemingly unrelated words (from “banana” to “chat””).
It evolved, with the MC’s help from a woman brought up from the audience, into a story with a lot of heart, just like a pic of a heart that appeared at the end.
MC Hammersmith’s biggest hit was a foray into the audience asking to see objects held up and named, for which he quickly supplied a rhyming name or description. Onstage, he also brought men to rap with him or highlight his rap with physical stances or facial expressions. A major instance eventually brought three men together for his purpose. A fun moment came when he unknowingly brought on a local comedian. MC later used the discovery in having all three make still another improvised appearance.
The least effective rap involved a freestyle foreign language set-up. It did, however, score a bit with the improvised use of lights that MC activated effectively more than once. In a song routine and a fast-talking one, language and lights worked beautifully. Song, in fact, proved a performance climax that brought MC Hammersmith thundering applause.
