Theatre & Stage reviews by SalsaChicago.com critic Al Bresloff

"500 Clown Christmas" (thru January 7,2006)

For those of you who have not seen this troupe perform, they are an unusual group of performers- not actors, or singers, but performers. They do their own form of theater, it is a mix of improv, gymnastics, acrobatics and in short, they enjoy performing for the audience as much as the audience enjoys watching them. This latest work was titled "500 Clown (sings) Christmas Carol(s), but due to audience feedback, they have shortened it to "500 Clown Christmas". The original concept was that the three "clowns" would be Dickens type characters performing their version of "A Christmas Carol" (why not? Everyone else is doing this show), but very little of this show is truly based on anything resembling a Dickens play (although they do a cute Tiny Tim number). 500 Clown builds a show based on a concept that is performed and after the show, they listen to their audience feedback and build from that point. Over a period of years, they are able to bring that show to a place where it can be done at a larger venue, but even their "little show" is a wonderful experience for the audience to not only watch , but to be a part of.

Yes, the audience is a part of the show. Our three performers , Molly Brennan (a delight to watch), Adrian Danzig (a true clown with amazing ability to take a hit or fall, and newcomer Chad Southard (amazingly, almost another Adrian Danzig) have the ability to play well with the audience and to the audience and have no problem getting them onstage for the big finale "Dance Like a Monkey". This number alone is worth the price of a ticket- it is amazing! But, luckily, the rest of the show is just as much fun. There is a rollicking Christmas Toast where each audience member gets to toast the holiday season (I wont tell you how this is done, but it is hysterical) and there is a playful happening when Chad (who is named Jeremy) does his solo "All Alone" but can't seem to be alone to do it. The music is written by John Fournier (who also sings, plays the keyboards and a mean saxophone). His band is made up of Matt Thompson on the bass, Ted Sirota and Dave Williams handling the percussion.

If you are looking for something to do over the Holidays, this is the place, Chicago's Storefront Theater located at 66 East Randolph Street. Performances are Thursday thru Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. There will be special performances from December 19-21st at 7:30 p.m. and no performance on Christmas Eve,Christmas Day, New Years Eve or New Years day. The show will run thru January 7th. Tickets are a mere $15 ($10 for students and seniors) and can be purchased in the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, by phone at 312-742-TIXS (8497) or on-line at www.storefronttheater.org. Have a ball!!!!!