Sweaty Clowns
"Shit work for shit pay for shit kids who shit themselves."
It’s an irresistible premise: what's not to love about a pair of miserable clowns spiralling into failure, dragging the whole of Boogie Woogie Entertainments towards bankruptcy with them? Less of a sad trombone, however, and more of a slapstick farce, the plot of Sweaty Clowns hinges on a potentially career-saving gig delivering a posho party to eighty rich-kid brats. WE'VE GOT 3,000 BALLOON DOGS TO BLOW UP the manager exclaims at one point as the group hurtle towards the inevitable, proverbial slow-moving clown-car crash when everything possible begins to go wrong.
The show mines its setup for plenty of laughs, and the cast throw themselves into the chaos with commitment. DJ/Magician Andy is the standout, with the actor channelling definite Rik Mayall energy into his off-kilter, outrageous and unhinged performance. In contrast, perpetually forlorn Dylan gets huge mileage out of doing very little, with the saddest of sad clown faces, as hilarious as it is endearing, even in repose.
Slightly uneven pacing means some sections land better than others, with the ending veering into a more sincere and serious segment that feels strangely out of step with the anarchic energy before it. It's not enough to sink the show (unlike having a rabbit-related breakdown in front of a room full of 6–9-year-olds), and it's a riotously goofy hour. You’ll leave with a big red greasepaint smile on your face.
★★★.5
