What I liked
I loved the implementation of ritual, and religious mythos into what is also a goofy clown bit. The costume dressings of the show, the script, call on us to question understanding itself, or language and stories, what makes something feel true or real. The playfulness comes into sort of a “look at the epicness of thought I’m making you grapple with while being a silly stupid little guy, and making you be a silly stupid little guy with me” sort of territory.
What I didn't like
I would love for the costuming and props and set designs to find a more unique realization. The clown suit is an obvious archetype, and there is delight in little every day objects being morphed into different beings and items for various uses, but I would love to see each piece achieve a deeper design, to feel inostensibly “Maniac.” Can the paper be stained in a unique way? Can the staff be etched with the omniscient language script of the gods? Can the lights be painted in their own ancient feeling way. Can the costume be even sillier to that the sternness of the man wearing it is more greatly at odds with the dumbness of his outfit? The juxtaposition of philosopher and idiot, I think could be highly amplified by filling out some of the design elements like this.
My overall impression
An insane odyssey through the history of human ambitions, guilt, and absolution…officiated by a clown.
We are judge, jury, executioner, as well as criminal, bystander, community, and scapegoat. The audience is revered by the performer, and as such we feel the journey to be of utmost importance, even when the action degrades to peak silliness.
This show’s mix of austere solemnity and mischievous jollity is a blend that few performers could do justice; thankfully Todd Sullivan is just one of those few.
