(photo by Jim Moore)
Awkward as An Art Form
by Jim Murchison
The best clowns take a recognizable weakness in the human condition and expose it in a way that makes us laugh and illuminates something of the common human spirit. What better common experience than puberty is there? We have all been through it and if you haven't, get permission from your parents before you read the review.
The key elements of the set are not surprisingly the toilet, the bedroom and the telephone; all things of extreme import for the evolving adolescent. Heather Marie Annis and Amy Lee as clown sisters Morro and Jasp respectively play all the moments of angst and discovery with comic zeal. Weaved into the mix are quiet secrets whispered to the audience, love fantasies and discoveries about feminine hygiene products set to the epic music of Richard Strauss.
While you're going through puberty, you don't necessarily recognize it as a wonderful time, but if you survive it, it can be the source of the fondest memories. Most of the audience had far less distance from puberty than I have and it is wonderful to see a predominantly younger audience.
Annis and Lee are tremendously good clowns that have a great chemistry with each other and perhaps an even greater one with the audience. Be warned if you do not like actively participating in a show or being a part of the show, don't sit in the front row or on the aisles. If you are very brave and love laughing then this will likely be as big a hit for you as it was for the audience when I saw it. And this is a big hit!
Feb. 11 - 23
runtime: approximately 75 minutes with no intermission.
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