Review: Clown Cabaret

via Clown Cabaret

So some quick stuff.  Clown Cabaret is a wonderful experiment organized by three veterans of the field, Karen Beriss, Matthew Pauli, and Rich Potter.  Clown Cabaret was started due to the lack of any regular clowning variety acts in the DC area. I've tried to describe what it was like to friends of mine and I tend to get... just about the same response, expectation of tales of circus clowning, you know, colorful clothing and rainbow wigs.  Now, there's nothing wrong with circus clowns, I respect that art as well, but that's not what I feel this show is. This show is, at it's essence, half clown, half comedy, and half variety show. The cast that comes out each month changes with the wind, so expect something different each time you make it.

I really appreciated the 20's gangster performance.  It centered around a clown with over accentuated stereotypical body language, sort of Untouchables style.  Anyhow, this character came out on the stage and immediately owned the crowd.   I loved when, at some point, he goes to creak his neck, with a loud sound, then a crinkled water bottle falls from within his suit.That combined with the facial expression of semi horror and shock when it happened, obviously intentional, but came off very genuine.

via Clown Cabaret

The entire show ended with a dog comedy performance. I... I'm not really sure how to describe this really.  Very similar to a normal dog show.  Dogs were very cute(did I say that), very well trained, the performance was creative.  Now imagine the dogs that are in the show are mischievous.  Always sabotaging the show in little ways behind the performers back.  I'm not sure how you train dogs to just mess things up in seemingly unintentional ways.  But wow, it worked.  I honestly think I would have watched a full show of just this. The 3 stooges of dogs.

I get the feeling that clowning by it's very nature is strange.  We here at DC Geeks love the strange.  It sleeps in our bed with us.  We get it coffee and donuts in the morning. You know, real first name basis. Strange fits this style of show pretty well.  It makes me wish that clowning shows were more common in the DC area.  I'm always glad to see people who are obviously passionate about what they do, well, doing what they love.

via Clown Cabaret

They invited the lot of us to a diner across the street afterwards.  Sitting down and talking to them about the show immediately afterwards was awesome.  I don't know if they do that every time or just because the group of us were that awesome. Being able to talk to an artist about their art is always a lot of fun.  It was a very good way to end a good night.  If you make it out to this in the future, stick around for this part.  Well worth it.

Clown Cabaret is the second Monday each month at Fort Fringe (607 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC) in DC at 8 PM.  Show's just $10, which is a steal.