Review
Creation: A Clown Show
Theater 5
August 7, 2006
VanLoan
vanloan@nyconstage.org

Since the beginnings of civilized society, there has been the need for the "clown". From the court jester to the Ringling Circus, the clown has symbolized ingenuousness and wonder; a receptacle for and escape from the fear and harshness of life. The beauty of the"clown" is they deconstruct life to its unrefined essence leaving simply its innate tragicomedy.

The brilliance of Creation is that the creators Lucas Caleb Rooney and Orlando Pabotoy take this retrospective aspect to its most primal starting point: the dawn of time. Using the book of Genesis as the ultimate source material, a clown (Timmy) is told by God (the commanding voice of Samuel Stricklen) to help in the six days of creation. Actually, Timmy is the 'understudy' replacing author and lead clown Lucas Caleb Rooney. The stage has been perfectly set for "clowning" in that Timmy is absolutely clueless as to what is required of him as an actor and accomplice to God.

Stumbling onto the stage (Rooney has crafted a flawless walk/hop/stumble for Timmy),  Timmy proceeds to create the world in six days with nothing but props. The initial joviality quickly turns into non-stop silliness. Each day of creation brings a new challenge and with each success Timmy explodes into a triumphal 'Oooooh-pah!' My personal favorite is Timmy trying to separate the firmament from the waters

There is an underlying darkness to all good comedy and Creation is no exception. Using such ingenious props as a mustache, marshmallow peeps and Melville's Moby Dick, Timmy is able to convey the elemental cruelty of life. Even at the creation, a foreshadowing of death is established.

Mr. Rooney wearing only a red button nose for comic effect is completely luminous as Timmy. While paying homage to the legendary greats of physical comedy (Keaton, Chaplin, Irwin), the comic he brings to mind most frequently is Red Skelton (Clem Kadiddlehopper is at times referenced).He is immensely aided by musicians Javen Tanner and Peter Friedland (who bring a haunting Tiger Lilies/ Shockheaded Peter sound to the show). Creation: a Clown Show is a delight at any age; and in a time of ever increasing fundamentalism the Bible never looked so good.

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