A Clown Show About Rain, Pleasance Dome, Review

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Rating (out of 5)
4
Show info
Company
Silent Faces Theatre in association with The Pleasance
Production
Devised by the company, Cordelia Stevenson and Josie Underwood (directors), Ellie Isherwood (sound designer), Stella Kailides (set designer).
Performers
Josie Underwood, Cara Withers and Stella Kailides (The Sailing Clowns), Cordelia Stevenson and Jack Wakely (The Lighthouse Keepers).
Running time
60mins

As the storm-tossed ship dances on the waves the yellow oilskinned sailors fight for balance in graceful slow-mo.

As quickly as it started the tempest abates, and starts, stops and starts. Even with the benefits of forecasts, some things are as unpredictable as the weather. Routine, however, can help to smooth the way. Something that the lighthouse keepers find, with the soothing poetry of the regular shipping forecast, comfort food and cleaning. The radio seems to pull content that is entirely meteorologically based from the ether as it crackles into “Into each life some rain must fall, but too much is falling in mine. Into each heart some tears must fall, but some day the sun will shine”.

The sailors are still finding life choppy, seeming to both help and hinder each other as they try to navigate. And then there is that drip … insidiously finding its way in and defying a constant flow of mops and buckets. They find ways to weather the storm, with restorative rounds of tea and deep breaths they bring back the sun into their lives. Through the static the radio augers “Some folks can lose the blues in their hearts, But when I think of you another shower starts”. There is still the chance of a drip…

This devised piece balances physical theatre and clowning to be both sweet, silly and significant. It’s a bit of a slow burn at first, as the metaphorical themes of mental health are not immediately apparent, but becomes eloquent despite being initially almost wordless. Not all the scenes move the concepts of the piece forward, but it is completely disarming and the cast display an ease of interaction, which is a feature of clowning, to have the audience literally eating out of their hands.

A unique, lovingly crafted show that has charm in buckets.

Show Times: 1st to 27th August 2018 (not 13th or 20th) at 1.40pm

Tickets: £8.00 (£7.50) - £11 (£10).

Suitability: 8+