Flip Flop is an improvised game show where the audience doesn't just watch the competition; they have the power to decide who wins or loses. Melanie Schaffer reviews Shanthony Exum's raucous, audience-driven format at Petit Campus during the Montréal Fringe Festival 2026.
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Flip Flop is an improvised game show where the audience doesn't just watch the competition; they have the power to decide who wins or loses. Melanie Schaffer reviews Shanthony Exum's raucous, audience-driven format at Petit Campus during the Montréal Fringe Festival 2026.
The concept is simple: three teams compete in a series of improvised challenges, each trying to earn the audience's vote. If a scene lands, it's a Flip. If it falls flat, it's a Flop. Rather than quietly applauding, the audience is encouraged to shout "Flip!" or "Flop!". Every enthusiastic "Flip!" counts as a vote. Each challenge is proposed by the opposing teams, but competitors can gamble on a Wild Card challenge instead for the chance to earn extra points. At stake? The glory of winning over the audience and the giant flip-flop trophy, handmade by the host.
The show is the creation of host and producer Shanthony Exum, a self-described weirdo with a vision. As an experienced improv performer and teacher, Exum is the engine that keeps the evening running smoothly. Her infectious enthusiasm maintains the show's pace while encouraging even the most reserved audience members to cheer louder and embrace the competition. She has been producing Flip Flop since 2024 and the format feels polished without losing its spontaneous charm. Acting as the referee for the agents of chaos on stage, Exum keeps the competition fair while allowing the madness of improv to unfold.
For the Montreal Fringe Festival 2026 run, Flip Flop featured a cast of 52 improvisers spread across six performances, with three teams of three improvisers appearing each night. Every scene is created entirely in the moment; no two performances are alike. In a world where so much entertainment is designed to be similar, repeated, shared, and consumed on demand, the unpredictability of live improv is precisely what makes it so compelling. The June 12 performance featured A Reasonable Number of People (Lacy, Deirdre, and Cathy F.), Hot Ass (Laura B., Kristina, and Miche), and Wilma (Sandi, Katie L., and Noush), whose members were visiting performers from out of town.
Every performer brings commitment to the bit, stage confidence, quick thinking, and adherence to the improv principle of "Yes, and…". The challenge is not just creating something funny; it is creating something together in real time in front of an audience. This cast of experienced improvisers demonstrates those skills consistently throughout the evening.
Audience participation is Flip Flop's greatest strength. Spectators' suggestions of locations, objects, and more become the foundation for scenes, while enthusiastic voting transforms the theatre into something closer to a live sporting event than a traditional stage production. Every laugh, cheer, and shouted "Flip!" or "Flop!" raises the stakes, creating an atmosphere where attendees become part of the show rather than passive observers. Unlike many interactive shows, participation never feels forced. The audience's excitement becomes part of the performance itself, feeding the performers' energy.
One of the funniest moments of the night came from the team Hot Ass, whose performers transformed themselves into inflatable tube men in a brilliantly executed piece of physical improv. It was a simple premise elevated by expressive movement and complete commitment to the silly challenge. The absurdity quickly won over the audience and earned the team a well-deserved Flip.
The evening culminated in a Wild Card tie-breaker featuring one of Exum's ridiculous, over-the-top challenge cards. The Wild Card finale heightened the competition and ended the evening on an energetic high.
Kyle, who handles the show's sound and lighting, has been with the production since its inception and is another essential ingredient in the show's success. His lighting and sound cues are far more than technical support; they make him feel like another improviser in the room. Perfectly timed music underscores dramatic moments, punctuates punchlines, and occasionally injects another layer of chaos into already unpredictable scenes. His ability to react instantly to the performers' choices reinforces the collaborative nature of the production.
Whether you're an improv regular or attending your first improvised performance, Flip Flop is an accessible introduction to the art form. Its fast pace and talented cast make the hour fly by, while the audience participation creates an atmosphere unlike any traditional theatre experience.
Flip Flop is a refreshing reminder to be present and embrace the moment. Improv is an antidote to the monotonous and predictable nature of curated social media experiences. Every joke, every unexpected twist, and every scene exists only for the people in the room. Nothing can be repeated, and that is precisely what makes it special. By the end of the hour, I found myself wishing there was one more round.
Créateur.trice et animateur.trice | Creator & Host: Shanthony Exum
Technicien.ne lumière et son | Light & Sound Technician: Kyle Allat
Reviewed by Melanie Schaffer.
Instagram: @yesandmtl · Website: yesandmtl.com/flipflop · #yesandmtl #flipflopfringe
Venue: Petit Campus, 57 rue Prince-Arthur E., Montréal, QC H2X 1B4.
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