My overall impression
This show is gloriously haunted by the ghost of Samuel Beckett. It’s part pure clowning, part vaudevillian musical comedy, part Biomechanical etude — but it transcends those forms to delve into character and story in a way that much physical theater doesn’t manage. The influences and touchstones here are clear — not just Beckett, but Le Coq, Grotowski, Decroux, Charlie Chaplin… But this is so much more than just an exercise. There is an almost overwhelming pathos in the three characters onstage — you feel for each of them deeply. The entire audience was laughing hysterically throughout the first three-quarters of the show — but by the end, I was closer to tears than laughter. I also have to commend the three performers themselves — their work is elegant and precise; and they’ve found a surprisingly organic way to work quite a few of their fantastically arcane skills into the show (accordion, anyone? Classical ballet? Fencing?) Their training shows, and takes what is already an interesting piece conceptually to a very high level performatively. I honestly can’t say enough good things about this show — it’s a work of art. Don’t miss it.
