What I liked
Seamus and his style of Clowning!!!! I’d pay to see this show year after year! Seamus brings so much variety and nuance that even in seeing the show multiple times, there are so many colors of subtext each time in Seamus’ delivery. He is a brilliant performer and a natural talent: A star to watch for certain. My favorite part of the show was when “His favorite poem” gets recited again after being sung earlier in the show, and the delivery of the same poem in two very different ways. It colored over so much meaning for both versions in a way that felt fresh and dynamic. Another important note: The show’s use of light and fog blew my mind—the heavy fog, woven through the clown bits and characters, set up the final feeling of True Purgatory, perfectly sealed by the lone solo standing light onstage.
What I didn't like
The only thing I could ask for from this show is more performances. I genuinely need to see this show at least a few more times.
My overall impression
After seeing this show twice, A Historical Gay Comedy Starring Nancy Regan; Clown Show has become one of my favorite Clown shows that I have ever seen. What starts off as just silly whimsical jokes and bits elegantly unfolds into layers of metaphor and prose about death and wanting to take just one last bow before the true final curtain call. This show has possibly one of my favorite written lines ever: “No one dies and asks to be an audience member.” There was a lot of healing in that line for me, as I have realized I have forced myself to play audience member rather than allow myself to be the being seen. To find art that is capable of entertaining, laughing, creating thought and capable of such self-healing is a mark of a true and incredibly talented artist. This was one of my favorite Fringe and Clown shows I’ve seen in years. I beg of Seamus to continue doing this piece and this character for more audiences: this is what they were born to do. (Also, Seamus has gifted me a fun new way to say Muesum and No that I will now use exhaustively.) So funny. Thank you for this show.
