Pagliaccis

What I liked

I absolutely loved the absurdist bursts of clowning and standup comedy, which totally threw the audience for a loop and made the play more unsettling, while also giving us all a few cathartic giggles and a sense of humanity.

The performances were excellent, especially Eric Barnard, who is absolutely captivating and unpredictable.

What I didn't like

I didn’t love the device of having characters on the phone be beside each other yet facing away, as I felt it was unnecessarily confusing and not integral to the plot.

There were also certain instances where the cast was turned away from the audience and it was difficult to hear— especially with audio cues that were occasionally overwhelming. However, this feels more like an issue with the space and tech rather than the piece itself.

My overall impression

A moving, darkly comedic story of loss, regret, anger… and clowning.