You know the economy is truly sinking when clowns count themselves among the pink-slipped. That's the premise behind the intriguing "Wanted-The Economic Crises and Its Effect on the Local Clown Population." The three-clown show explores the emotional and rhetorical fall-out caused by feeling unwanted, while searching for solutions to the problem.
The 60-minute performance opens with Captain Melisande Blue (Noel Williams), Astropothia (Zea Barker) and Professor Edward Love (Barnaby King) filing in clutching pink slips. Despite the serious nature of job loss, the clowns' red noses and chaotic costumes of feathers, spandex and a bowler hat creates a comical spectacle. Led by Edward Love, they devise a plan to captivate the audience while they tackle their unemployment issues.
Trained in the Pochinko clowning technique that allows emotions and impulses to fly, these are not your typical, kid-focused circus clowns. Throwing out a wacky yet sophisticated range of references that includes Sam Shepard, David Mamet and a ballet to Judy Collins's "Send In The Clowns," "Wanted" engages the audience with clever improvisation. Indeed, the audience is an integral part of the performance, supplying problems to be solved and answers to the clowns' whimsical questions.
Unstructured and free-wheeling, "Wanted" supplies piano playing, a hint of a strip tease, singing and high-level clowning overall. In the end, when the audience is asked what the play is about, most have no idea. The point is that in the process of tackling their worries, these three clowns entertained their audience and proved their worth and ability to be desired.
Reviewed by Centerstage!
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