“Clown Play” at the New York International Fringe Festival at The Celebration of Whimsy
“Clown Play” at the New York International Fringe Festival at The Celebration of Whimsy Written by Paul David Young Directed by Robert Lutfy Reviewed by Joseph Verlezza Theatre Reviews Limited
A new work by Paul David Young appropriately entitled “Clown Play” currently part of the NY International Fringe Festival has a new twist on an ongoing theme on the present theatre scene. His script attempts to make a comment of sorts on the recent socio-economic crisis that has plagued the country. Jobless, homeless, mistreated, disconnected, misunderstood and medicated psychotic individuals searching for a safe haven to rest, regroup, repent, and redefine the meaning of happiness. They just happen to be a clown, or learning to be a clown, or trapped as a closeted clown, or learning to love a clown. The basic plot revolves around all these characters coming together as squatters as they search for a vacant foreclosure and are finally discovered by the past owner who has just been released from prison for killing her husband and is trying to reclaim whatever may be left of her pathetic life. Sounds like fun.
Most of the content consists of the age old art of clowning to convey different situations and feelings and to move the plot forward. Although the concept is perceptive, it fails when the art form suffers, lacking substance and detail, relying on slapstick, mugging and silly pratfalls with too much emphasis on gratuitous sexual humor. Perhaps the message trying to escape from beneath the rubble of frivolous confusion is that no matter how tough life may be or how desperate the situation is, if we learn to laugh in the face of danger and despair, we will survive. If it were transmitted in a more sensitive, sophisticated way, it would be more powerful and serve the artists attempting to deliver much better.
CLOWN PLAY
“Clown Play” is presented by The New York International Fringe Festival and Skylight Productions at The Celebration of Whimsy (The C.O.W.), 21-A Clinton Street (Houston and Stanton Street).
The final performance of “Clown Play” will take place at on Saturday August 24th at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $18.00 at the door and $15.00 for advance purchase. The running time is 1 hour and 10 minutes. For more information about the show, the cast and the creative team, please visit www.clownplay2013.com For more information about the 17th Annual New York Fringe Festival visit www.FringeNYC.org.
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Saturday, August 17, 2013
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