Twirly's Traveling Tricks

A fantastic show that you must carve out the time for. Twirly is a treat, throwing us back to the best of clowning and vaudeville while keeping us on our toes. It's possible but unlikely that one performer and a pair of boots has engendered as much joy in a pack of humans in decades as you will find here. ... full review

Haba kee tooo! Twirly is back, and this time, for the first time, she has an entire show dedicated solely to her - and Fringe is lucky to have her. Fellow Twirlyheads will enjoy familiar Fan Favorites - like her wildly impressive tap dancing, her hilarious attempts at animal balloons and her genuinely heartbreaking rendition of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile.” And she’s added things even I’ve never seen - her Grape Trick alone is worth the price of admission. But this is the first time old and new fans alike will really have a chance to enter Twirly’s World - 45 minutes of no-rules chaos where no word uttered makes sense and there is no Fourth Wall - the audience and even the tech crew all play roles - and each night will be a different show... full review

Twirly's Traveling Tricks is a theatrical force that needs to be experienced by anyone who loves to see raw talent and bold new work onstage. This show encapsulates everything that is great about Fringe theatre- it's funny, it's fresh, it's groundbreaking, it's unique and immersive, it's short and sweet but filled to the brim with wonder and surprise. Twirly is the kind of classic comedienne who can read her audience's reactions and delve into the depths of her collaborative creation. I was chosen to go up onstage with her, and although I often shy away from audience participation, I felt completely safe and inspired when she pulled me up in front of the crowd, because Dana (Twirly) fostered an intimate community based clowning experience fr... full review

Quirky, surreal, unique. Possibly not everyone's cup of tea but I left smiling broadly.... full review

Tap dancing. Balloon animals. Unscheduled grapes. Twirly's Traveling Tricks is probably the last show I'll catch at this year's Fringe, and it was a great one to close out on. Benedict delivers a hilarious one-woman variety show in character as Twirly the itinerant undead clown, who is perfectly comfortable with tap numbers, singing, and other tricks, but struggles with more mundane tasks like coherent sentences or putting on shoes and hats. It's all delightfully surreal, and there's a bit of vulnerability in the performance that seems very on-brand for Fringe. If you get the opportunity to see her in the future, I'd definitely recommend.... full review

I was introduced to Twirly through her supporting role in Best Night Ever, and I was happy to discover she had her own program at Fringe. A delightful show of physical humor and skill, interwoven with a surprising twist of poignancy. ... full review

Dana Benedict has put together an incredible character with Twirly. Partly undead, partly a clown, partly a tap-dancer, Twirly is a twist on the classic clown idea that's absolutely wonderful. Wherever Twirly goes next, you should make sure you're there to see it. She's THAT good.... full review

Dana has created a truly original character; child-like, enthusiastic, and menacing in equal parts. She subverted clowning expectations and really engaged the audience in her intimate solo show. One gag, involving a pair of finicky shoes, had me in stitches.... full review

I was already familiar with Twirly the Clown: 45 minutes of Twirly the Clown. Which is really all I wanted, and that's exactly what was delivered. Pure, silly, sometimes manic, heart pleasing fun.... full review

This was a riotous romp through the mind of a clown who shares the general sensibilities of a kindergartener on a sugar high, and every second was a delight! ... full review