The Love of a Clown takes us on a journey of love, loss, romance, and Paris in the 1900. You are introduced to a white-faced clown, Jacques Raouso as he recalls the full and beautiful life and experiences he has had, the places he’s visited, the people he has met and the inevitable choices he has made. There is something about this production that hits you hard, its honesty, beauty and gentle delivery reaches in and pulls on your heart.
The play is told to us by Jacques, plained incredibly by Chris Kinahan, and we enter his world and his need and want to be loved and accepted, to be with someone. This play works on an extra level by the level of sincerity and truthfulness that we get from Jacques, his eyes body are animated throughout and his energy electrifying.
It’s difficult to review this because the story is so unique and wonderful to watch I feel like I would be ruining it and spoiling it for those lucky enough to get to come and see this. We get to meet some of the people in his life over time, a lonely french Madam, and the love of his life, and a homeless man. The love that Jacques has for others, for making them happy, and giving them more than he ever could imagine is shown in a beautiful and heartbreaking scene.
Jake Linzey, the play’s writer, also did the three puppets that become the external characters in the play that Jacque interacts with. This is handled with care, realism, and understanding that you get completely taken in by their performances and the two work in tight unison bringing together the story of Jacque. Linzey writing is poetic and holds so much love and truth it sticks with you. There is a natural feel to his writing style that allows the play to unfold gently without it fumbling or become drawn, and at all time Linzey ensures his words are those of Jacque himself. At times this play is warm and funny with Kinahan able to entrance you, but The Love of a Clown is a tragedy.
The Love of a Clown is a marvel to behold, its ability to tell this story and for you to fall in love with a performer who gives a steller performance aided quite wonderfully writer and puppeteer Jake Linzey. Their relationship on stage is magic and at times I felt I wanted Jake to give Chris a hug, though this would break that fourth wall, it non the less was one thing I wished he would do.
‘It’s hard to find something at the fringe that you feel is unique enough, there are over 2000 shows and a lot of them are going to be great and vert simular to one another. The Love of A Clown has that rare distinction of being a genuine original, well acted and performed, with a beautifully written script. This is like no other show this year and is one that will touch you immensely.’
C soco (studio 1) 4-30 Aug (not 16) at 18:45 (0hr50)
Tickets £7.50-£9.50 / concessions £6.50-£8.50
To book tickets call 0845 260 1234
