Tag Archives: Clowning

Review – Clowntown: I Can Do Anything

Clowntown: I Can Do Anything

Surgeon’s Hall

Edinburgh Fringe

03/08/18

clowntown

“In Clowntown everyone’s funny,
In Clowntown we don’t need money,
In Clowntown nobody’s wearing a crown.”

Candy and Dandy of The Sphere Clown Band take to the stage with their various musical instruments to introduce their audience to Clowntown, a town where you can do anything. The younger members of the audience are invited onto the stage where they are made honorary members of the town council of Clowntown, and invited to dance along to a number of songs, try out Clown exercises and enjoy some magic tricks.

This production is at times an enjoyable interactive show that was well received by its younger audience, who launched themselves into “Clownercise” and their roles as zoo animals with gusto. However, though it is a lively and entertaining show, there are times at which Clowntown finds its audience drifting as the pace draws out. It does not seem confident in itself, which leaves it feeling somewhat clumsy and haphazard. While the classic trope of the clown attempting and failing comically at something was employed effectively at times, at others it felt more that the performer was not in control. The clown character may be struggling, but to retain the audience’s engagement the performer needs to retain control and confidence. As we reached the final song, “I Can do Anything,” the haphazard feeling to the piece continued. The song incorporated performance in American Sign Language, which was a nice element, but it was the first time it was introduced in the piece, seeming more of an afterthought than an intrinsic element. Similarly, the title of the song, “I Can Do Anything” was introduced as the theme of the piece (which is also mentioned in the title), but the theme was not notably present throughout the rest of the show.

Clowntown is a fun production, with good ideas and intentions which don’t quite come to fruition over the course of the show.

Clowntown: I Can Do Anything runs at the Space @ Surgeon’s Hall until August 25th as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

La Vie Dans Une Marionette – Edinburgh Fringe Review

The White Face Crew

Gilded Balloon at the Museum

24/8/17

2017LAVIEDA_AVZ

Hailing from New Zealand, La Vie Dans Une Marionette is a charming and captivating story of friendship, love and companionship. It evokes silent films and clowning styles of yore, while remaining fresh and retaining a distinctive, contemporary mark.

The audience is left unsure of what to expect from the production, as it begins with a short bit on the qualities of a good and a bad audience member, which seems relatively unconnected to the rest of the show, but this is part of the productions strength. Just as you begin to expect a pure frivolous comedy, a sentimental element is introduced, and just as your (or at least my) tears are about to brim over, a moment of daftness or humour is thrown into the mix.

All three performers deliver strong performances, with Tama Jarman demonstrating impressive mime skills, Chris Ofanoa, fluidity and control in movement sections, and Nikki Bennett shining in her various comic roles as she has the audience dissolving in laughter at her turn as the moon and her Scottish-ish accent.

The costume and stage design beautifully compliments the performances, with the simple set containing just enough pointers to convey context for the story, without cluttering the space in which the performers move. Everything on stage serves a purpose and it all fits together to create a defined aesthetic in an effective combination of prettiness and practicality.

Finding that borderline between laughter and tears, the happy and the sad on which good clowning treads, La Vie Dans Une Marionette is an enchanting production that would win over even the most stony-faced audience member.

La Vie Dans Une Marionette runs until 28th August as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.