What I liked
Ian Bratschie is an absolute wizard of physical comedy. His clown and mime skills are off the charts and Todd Macabre is the perfect vessel for his strange, hilarious, and beautifully crafted mind. From the moment he appears, cloaked in a cape and crowned with that ridiculous top hat, the audience is completely on board. The complicity he builds is incredible, we’re not just watching, we’re part of the performance. He coaxes the audience to help with sound effects and it’s silly, it’s simple, and it totally works. We giggle at our own attempts, and then giggle harder at how brilliantly he incorporates them. His commitment is jaw-dropping. He throws his entire body into the work, and by the end, the audience is breathless on his behalf. There was a constant undercurrent of laughter that never fully died, just shifted in waves depending on which absurd corner of his spooky dreamscape we were exploring.
What I didn't like
No notes. I’m already going back for round two.
My overall impression
Todd Macabre is clowning at its best: honest, unhinged, and totally unforgettable. Ian has built a haunted playground full of gothic delight, existential dread, and laugh-out-loud brilliance. It’s spooky, silly, and strangely tender. This show is a gift, and with only one more added performance, those tickets won’t last. Do yourself a favor and visit these Spooky Woods before they disappear into the fog!
