Four Shows mostly by women Sunday Night the 7th

Sunday Night 8:30 Shows on the 7th

There were 4 different groups of mainly women except for the first group which which had one guy. I know the producers are burning their candles at both ends and the middle – but I do miss the bio’s of the performers in the programs of the shows we are seeing.

Chalk it Up
With ?
The first group Chalk it Up had a lot going on at the same time with lots of scatology happening. Scatology seemed to be the main theme of the show. Often the show for me seemed unfocused. They did a few nice things with chalk on the boxes creating different buttons that made the other clowns do thing, which were the spots that seemed to work the best for me. The use of chalk on the floor creating safe zones for these clowns seemed a forced dramatic situation. These clown all have unique characters, which was good, now it would be good to see them focus on the theater of their clown theatre.

Two chairs
Monica Moreau & Adriana Chavez

This was their only show and it is good seeing the festival giving slots to up and coming performers like this. The two performers in Two Chairs were Monica Moreau (I only know this because I know her) and the second clown it is hard to tell from the program. Their piece was very much Clown Dance Theatre with more concentration on the dance. There clown characters were believable and real on stage at all time and they developed one simple theme that worked really well. It was enjoyable seeing them work together to their hip-hop clown dance and incorporating some nice gymnastics. I know they have not been working together long but what they are doing is good and I look forwards to seeing how they develop in the future. They have an excellent working relationship.

The CanCan Dew
Jenny Sargent and Aimee German
Jenny Sargent was in one of the best shows of the festival last year Under the Skiff with her brilliant partner Maja Bieler. And I am very sorry not to see Maja listed among this year performers - but have high hopes to see her next year. Jenny Sargent is an amazing powerful performer and with her new partner Aimee German in this beginning show theirs. There is no way what they do is going to be anything but great. Aimee of course is in the other hit show of past clown theatre festivals Bouffon Glass Menajoree. Together these two performers are amazing … combining a classy style, dance, gymnastics, theatre, drama and clown theatre with total use of their talents. It is very refreshing to see these two women in the short piece that they did. This does look like a beginning new team, which works. Part of the key you will see with great shows is a wonderful working sharing relationship. That is one thing you will often find in great show – the people are working well together and using their unique talents. Sunday was the only show and you are lucky if you saw it… I am looking forwards to seeing more of these two and The CanCan Dew developing into a full theatrical show.

Pants! The Best Show Ever
Summer Shapiro and April Wagner
I cannot talk about Pants without talking about Summer Shapiro’s experience at last years Clown Theatre Festival. Obviously a very talented well trained woman…lets just say last year was a real learning and growing experience that we all experience once in while; but hopefully not to often. As one person in the audience said, "I cannot believe its the same person!" With Summer’s new partner April Wagner – these two found their own unique style of clown theatre that really works. Sexy – yes and they play and make fun of so many sexy, shy thing along with, men, love/lusty plus more on so many different levels. These two women do let everything go and they reach that level of theatre where anything can happen and just might. They have a good clown piece now, I look forward to these two women as well as some of the others in the festival taking their great talent between the two of them to the next level of theatre – clown theatre.
Pants has one more show Friday September 12th at 8:30 … if you want to see these two get tickets now.

As a last note the best shows last year had a real strong story lines with a beginning, middle and end. Yes we want to see great clean technique that we do not notice, strong freeing characters, wonderful costumes, positive working relationships, theatre that puts you on the edge of your seat laughing and being moved so much it hurts. Put all that in with a strong story and you have a great show that has a shot at running and doing well. This is after all CLOWN THEATRE. The theatre must always be a major part of the total package.