Clowns a class act
Thu, 1 Mar 2001, 08:37 amGrant Malcolm3 posts in thread
Clowns a class act
Thu, 1 Mar 2001, 08:37 amClowns aren't just for kids! How many of us have stolen a niece, nephew, sibling or any spotty faced youngster that might pass as a child and used them as a passport to gain entry to entertainment classed as being for children?
The truth of the matter is kids have it great. No-one expects them to understand deep philosophical meanings, appreciate subtle nuances (not that neither might be there) or sit too long between flashpots or slapstick. Just occasionally it doesn't hurt to give the child inside an opportunity to revel in the thoroughly entertaining.
Peticulo and Mr Laroso are trying something relatively new, but very, very old at the Blueoom. "Serious Acting" as their 70 minute show is titled, combines traditional elements of clowning familiar to all. Their passions are extreme, gullibility is probably the greatest of these. Their expressions ranging from passionate fire to rivers of tears. Glorious, physical slapstick abounds. It's the Three Stooges without all the boring talky bits!
Paula Pythian's Peticulo is snappy, bad tempered and serious fun. Allan Mathiasch's Mr Laroso shows moments of comic genius and is at his best when genuinely surprised by the train of events. Allan's physicality, range and subtlety (would you believe it!) of facial expressions showed a craftsman at ease in a form and character he clearly knows well.
On opening night i felt there were moments where the performance nearly lost its way. A shame as the show opens with such promise! We occasionally completely lost sight of the imminent performance of Hamlet, the pressing need that needs to infect and drive the production forward carrying the audience with it. Doubtless the performers, under the direction of Nick Tapper, will be working to pull these moments together and tighten the show.
But the energy never lapsed and the audience was kept laughing until the hilarious closing moments of the performance. A light night out, a reality check to ensure we're not taking things a little too seriously. And, whilst it's billed as entertainment for adults, i'd not hestitate to take along littlies of any age to one of the performances in the early evening.
Cheers
Grant
The truth of the matter is kids have it great. No-one expects them to understand deep philosophical meanings, appreciate subtle nuances (not that neither might be there) or sit too long between flashpots or slapstick. Just occasionally it doesn't hurt to give the child inside an opportunity to revel in the thoroughly entertaining.
Peticulo and Mr Laroso are trying something relatively new, but very, very old at the Blueoom. "Serious Acting" as their 70 minute show is titled, combines traditional elements of clowning familiar to all. Their passions are extreme, gullibility is probably the greatest of these. Their expressions ranging from passionate fire to rivers of tears. Glorious, physical slapstick abounds. It's the Three Stooges without all the boring talky bits!
Paula Pythian's Peticulo is snappy, bad tempered and serious fun. Allan Mathiasch's Mr Laroso shows moments of comic genius and is at his best when genuinely surprised by the train of events. Allan's physicality, range and subtlety (would you believe it!) of facial expressions showed a craftsman at ease in a form and character he clearly knows well.
On opening night i felt there were moments where the performance nearly lost its way. A shame as the show opens with such promise! We occasionally completely lost sight of the imminent performance of Hamlet, the pressing need that needs to infect and drive the production forward carrying the audience with it. Doubtless the performers, under the direction of Nick Tapper, will be working to pull these moments together and tighten the show.
But the energy never lapsed and the audience was kept laughing until the hilarious closing moments of the performance. A light night out, a reality check to ensure we're not taking things a little too seriously. And, whilst it's billed as entertainment for adults, i'd not hestitate to take along littlies of any age to one of the performances in the early evening.
Cheers
Grant
Grant MalcolmThu, 1 Mar 2001, 08:37 am
Clowns aren't just for kids! How many of us have stolen a niece, nephew, sibling or any spotty faced youngster that might pass as a child and used them as a passport to gain entry to entertainment classed as being for children?
The truth of the matter is kids have it great. No-one expects them to understand deep philosophical meanings, appreciate subtle nuances (not that neither might be there) or sit too long between flashpots or slapstick. Just occasionally it doesn't hurt to give the child inside an opportunity to revel in the thoroughly entertaining.
Peticulo and Mr Laroso are trying something relatively new, but very, very old at the Blueoom. "Serious Acting" as their 70 minute show is titled, combines traditional elements of clowning familiar to all. Their passions are extreme, gullibility is probably the greatest of these. Their expressions ranging from passionate fire to rivers of tears. Glorious, physical slapstick abounds. It's the Three Stooges without all the boring talky bits!
Paula Pythian's Peticulo is snappy, bad tempered and serious fun. Allan Mathiasch's Mr Laroso shows moments of comic genius and is at his best when genuinely surprised by the train of events. Allan's physicality, range and subtlety (would you believe it!) of facial expressions showed a craftsman at ease in a form and character he clearly knows well.
On opening night i felt there were moments where the performance nearly lost its way. A shame as the show opens with such promise! We occasionally completely lost sight of the imminent performance of Hamlet, the pressing need that needs to infect and drive the production forward carrying the audience with it. Doubtless the performers, under the direction of Nick Tapper, will be working to pull these moments together and tighten the show.
But the energy never lapsed and the audience was kept laughing until the hilarious closing moments of the performance. A light night out, a reality check to ensure we're not taking things a little too seriously. And, whilst it's billed as entertainment for adults, i'd not hestitate to take along littlies of any age to one of the performances in the early evening.
Cheers
Grant
The truth of the matter is kids have it great. No-one expects them to understand deep philosophical meanings, appreciate subtle nuances (not that neither might be there) or sit too long between flashpots or slapstick. Just occasionally it doesn't hurt to give the child inside an opportunity to revel in the thoroughly entertaining.
Peticulo and Mr Laroso are trying something relatively new, but very, very old at the Blueoom. "Serious Acting" as their 70 minute show is titled, combines traditional elements of clowning familiar to all. Their passions are extreme, gullibility is probably the greatest of these. Their expressions ranging from passionate fire to rivers of tears. Glorious, physical slapstick abounds. It's the Three Stooges without all the boring talky bits!
Paula Pythian's Peticulo is snappy, bad tempered and serious fun. Allan Mathiasch's Mr Laroso shows moments of comic genius and is at his best when genuinely surprised by the train of events. Allan's physicality, range and subtlety (would you believe it!) of facial expressions showed a craftsman at ease in a form and character he clearly knows well.
On opening night i felt there were moments where the performance nearly lost its way. A shame as the show opens with such promise! We occasionally completely lost sight of the imminent performance of Hamlet, the pressing need that needs to infect and drive the production forward carrying the audience with it. Doubtless the performers, under the direction of Nick Tapper, will be working to pull these moments together and tighten the show.
But the energy never lapsed and the audience was kept laughing until the hilarious closing moments of the performance. A light night out, a reality check to ensure we're not taking things a little too seriously. And, whilst it's billed as entertainment for adults, i'd not hestitate to take along littlies of any age to one of the performances in the early evening.
Cheers
Grant
Walter PlingeTue, 6 Mar 2001, 05:08 pm
RE: Clowns a class act
I have to agree with Grant - P & Mr L was great fun for ourselves & the rentakids who accompanied us...
From Mr Laroso's gibberish explanation for showing up late, to a hilarious make-up mirror scene with gross-out bathroom props- schtick, to Peticulo's terrible last minute laryngitis scare, there are plenty of laughs. The earlier Sunday performance attracted a few more youngsters & I understand the flexible script changes a bit to accomodate the crowd. I expect that there are even more witty references to Shakespeare in the "adult" version than the gems to which we were treated.
Congrats to all involved - if you can make it to the Blue Room, this one is well worth seeing!
Lisa
From Mr Laroso's gibberish explanation for showing up late, to a hilarious make-up mirror scene with gross-out bathroom props- schtick, to Peticulo's terrible last minute laryngitis scare, there are plenty of laughs. The earlier Sunday performance attracted a few more youngsters & I understand the flexible script changes a bit to accomodate the crowd. I expect that there are even more witty references to Shakespeare in the "adult" version than the gems to which we were treated.
Congrats to all involved - if you can make it to the Blue Room, this one is well worth seeing!
Lisa
Walter PlingeTue, 6 Mar 2001, 05:12 pm
RE: Clowns a class act
I have to agree with Grant - P & Mr L was great fun for ourselves & the rentakids who accompanied us...
From Mr Laroso's gibberish explanation for showing up late, to a hilarious make-up mirror scene with gross-out bathroom props- schtick, to Peticulo's terrible last minute laryngitis scare, there are plenty of laughs. The earlier Sunday performance attracted a few more youngsters & I understand the flexible script changes a bit to accomodate the crowd. I expect that there are even more witty references to Shakespeare in the "adult" version than the gems to which we were treated.
Congrats to Paula Pythian (Peticulo), Allan Mathiasch (Mr Laroso), director Nick Tapper & all involved - if you can make it to the Blue Room, this one is well worth seeing!
Lisa
From Mr Laroso's gibberish explanation for showing up late, to a hilarious make-up mirror scene with gross-out bathroom props- schtick, to Peticulo's terrible last minute laryngitis scare, there are plenty of laughs. The earlier Sunday performance attracted a few more youngsters & I understand the flexible script changes a bit to accomodate the crowd. I expect that there are even more witty references to Shakespeare in the "adult" version than the gems to which we were treated.
Congrats to Paula Pythian (Peticulo), Allan Mathiasch (Mr Laroso), director Nick Tapper & all involved - if you can make it to the Blue Room, this one is well worth seeing!
Lisa