UNDERGROUND MONK SHOW imagines black-cloaked clowns finding magical water that can make their dreams come true. Each clown has a surreal vision through contact with the water, growing more vivid and obscure as the hour goes on. As so much of the enjoyment of this show is in the ludicrous spectacle, I hesitate to give too much away; however, explaining that the first five minutes consist of the clowns’ silent descent through the audience onto the stage, all tightly gripping a plastic bowl full of holy water, gives an idea of the show’s purpose — embracing silliness.
This show captured the essence of clowning, connecting with audiences through absurdity, exaggeration, and physical comedy. With a minimal set, the show relied heavily on the physicality of the talented cast of clowns: Max Baumgarten, Dee Marcucci, John Norris, Bill O’Neill, and Claire Woolner. Each clown could bring the crowd to laughter with the smallest look or gesture, and the performance’s minimal dialogue deftly explored how laughter can be expressed through the shared language of the body.
One of the most unique shows I’ve seen at the Fringe, and a triumph against waning attention spans, UNDERGROUND MONK SHOW relies on a leisurely plot built from subtly and playfully simple scenes. The Piccolo Tent was the perfect venue for such a peculiar play, allowing for the fourth-wall breaking synonymous with clowning. The clowns expertly built and sustained a relationship with the crowd, occasionally calling for audience participation that produced hysterics across the tent. I would have liked to see more audience work, as that was the show’s real strength and it would have helped prevent any repetitive or overly long scenes.
Overall, the show was a playful look at physical comedy and a way to let loose, watch something absurd and embrace the foolish. The costume changes and props were used minimally yet effectively, and the sound and lighting complemented the physicality perfectly. The show exemplified what the fringe is about: the opportunity to awaken audiences to a whole host of new and obscure performances, and UNDERGROUND MONK SHOW opened my eyes to the joyfully strange world of clowning.
UNDERGROUND MONK SHOW is running until the 30 August at the Piccolo Tent at Assembly George Square Gardens. Buy tickets here.
Image provided by Soho Theatre for press use.
