By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“)
A decade ago the NOLA Project mounted an unusual production of Adam Szymkowicz’s Clown Bar at The Little Gem Saloon.
Set in a seedy bar run by a crime syndicate of clowns, Szymkowicz spun a dark tale of menacing clowns that would give chills to any coulrophobic – a person suffering from an intense fear of clowns – and make the rest of us rational folks a bit uneasy with those that don facepaint, wear grossly oversized shoes and don bulbous red noses for the purpose of eliciting laughter.
In the first play, Happy Mahoney is a former clown who left the clown world in order to become a police detective. His intimate knowledge of the seamy clown world made him the perfect candidate for investigating the murder of his own brother. By reintroducing himself to the dark clown world, Happy sets his life on a collision course with destiny.
At the beginning of Clown Bar 2, we are led to believe that Happy has taken over the syndicate and remained in control of the criminal clown empire for the past two years. As in Clown Bar, Alex Martinez-Wallace plays Happy and we see him in flashback.
When Happy suddenly goes missing with explanation, foul play is suspected and Petunia (the versatile Natalie Boyd) alerts the local constabulary.
Keith Claverie performs as singing clown Musty, a sad sack who is socially maladjusted from the dark times he has endured. There is never an opportunity lost for Claverie’s singing clown to perform as a bizarre narrator.
Mac (Benjamin Dougherty) and Gloria (Megan Whittle), are police detectives who leave the “beige world” of gumshoes and don the whiteface, colorful costumes and oversized shoes of the clown world. Mac and Gloria soon find their investigation into Happy’s disappearance leads to them to becoming ever more connected as a couple. It seems that those that clown together rarely frown together.
Perhaps the most likely candidate for Happy’s disappearance is Popo, an innocent looking, child-like psychopath portrayed again by Jessica Lozano. A lucky survivor from the events of Clown Bar, Popo would love to stick a knife into someone if they looked too hard in her direction. A few of the other clowns like Petunia are able to keep her in check, but just barely.
Throughout the investigation, Musty continues to sing songs to set the tone and to make strange commentaries on the present events in the clown crime world to which he is privy.
The clown underworld is run through intimidation like any other criminal enterprise with a boss and henchmen. These clowns use toy guns to threaten one another and if a “shooting” should occur, colorful red ribbons mimicking the spurting of blood from their bodies occurs before they die.
Make no mistake about it. There is lots of satire here, especially as the undercover cops Mac and Gloria get drawn ever more closely into the clown world and begin to lose their focus.
Joe Signorelli and Matthew Thompson portray henchmen clowns Williamy Bill and Billy Bill, respectively. While some may consider them small roles, there’s no such thing as a small role – only small clowns.
Some of the strongest characters in Clown Bar 2 are the women clowns. This includes Kristin Witt’s sultry clown Virginia, who attempts to seduce Mac. Witt, a skilled actor who has enjoyed major roles in previous NOLA Projects productions like Romeo and Juliet, A Balm in Gilead and A Winter’s Tale. One of the most versatile stage actors, Witt has enjoyed some success in film and TV in recent years.
Her character is also clearly established with the aid of makeup and hair designs executed by Leslie Claverie. Witt’s character is childlike, but sexy. Popo is also childlike, but menacing. It is obvious she could go out of control at a moment’s notice were it not for more level-headed clowns like Petunia to keep her properly grounded. Witt’s performance is dangerous, too, but only to Mac as he tries to keep a level head during his investigation.
Rounding out the cast is David Sellers who plays the dual roles of Sprinkles and Cliteau Cliteau, a mime. It is pointed out that in the clown world –as in the “beige” world of the police – no one really likes mimes.
Brandon Scott Grayson provides original music that is fully realized by Ronald Joseph as music director.
As the director of Clown Bar 2, Khiry Armstead also designs the sound, which perfectly complements the action on the stage and throughout the immersive theater.
Armstead follows Clown Bar’s director Beau Batcher, picking up where the previous play left off. Many of the original characters in Clown Bar were dispatched by play’s end, so it’s understandable that those that remain in the present time are hardened to the clown life and distrustful of police in general. Shauna Leone designed the very accurate and fully realized costumes, while Joan Long did outstanding work on lighting designs.
Brandon Scott Grayson provides original music that is fully realized by Ronald Joseph as music director.
The satire in Clown Bar 2 is deliberately in one’s clown face, it is not intended for children and no one under 21 will be admitted. The NOLA Project players prove once again that dark comedy is their strongest suit and while they may be clowning around, this show is both deadly serious and funny at the same time.
Clown Bar 2 (90 minutes with no intermission) continues through June 6 with evening performances 7:30 p.m. at the Twilight Room of the Allways Lounge, 1040 Marigny Street. Tickets can be purchased online here.
