GUERRA and POE & MATTHEWS

Friday, September 14, 2012

GUERRA, A Clown play Directed by Decon de Mayo, Seth Bockley & La Piara, Performed by Madeleine Sierra, Artús Cháves & Fernando Córdova, Mexico City, Mexico. This is clowning at its best: simple, hilarious, and joyful.  They had the audience in their grasp from the moment they entered the stage. The characters were strong and consistent. The subject of war was handled beautifully with laughter, while fully conveying the real horrors.  To my mind, this is the true beauty of clowning.  There were the hierarchies, and elements of status, including the invisible authority on the telephone: the "Commander", that are essential to good clown shows. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and laughed a lot, thanks to the performers' own pleasure at playing for us.

POE and MATTHEWS: a misadventure in the middle of nowhere, Brian Kuwabara & Emily Windler, Los Angeles, California.  This character-driven show is a delightful blend of witty and silly.  There is a strong script combined with nimble improvisation.  Poe, played in drag by Emily, is based let's say loosely, on Edgar Allen Poe.  She portrays this male character with a comfortable air, conveying a male-ness without hitting you over the head. Brian as the ridiculously overweight Matthews, creates a perfect balance to his partner. They quickly draw us into their world, and we are easily willing to go through this imaginary scenario of being shipwrecked on a deserted island, and the hardships endured by the two characters.  The performers present strong characterizations and relationship, so that we like them and care what happens to them.  A great pairing, echoing the likes of Laurel and Hardy.  I loved the playfulness with anachronisms and direct reference to the silliness of the show, such as one made to "the island of suspension of disbelief."  See what I mean?  Simultaneously brilliant and stupid.

Having seen these two shows back to back, I was struck by their wildly diverse approaches to the art of clowning.  Both were strong, well-written, well-performed, inventive, and full of substance. Wish I had time to write more about both shows, and to express my thoughts with more eloquence.  I'll just say that I am very glad I got to see them!