Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Clowns masters of meticulous mayhem
Oh, to be six again.
Technically, the MTYP season-opener Aga-Boom is recommended for audiences aged three and up. No matter how much you might enjoy your adulthood, you may find yourself envying the little juvies in your midst as they laugh, scream and engage in near-rioting over the course of this hour-long clown show, while most adults in the audience are obliged to engage in half-hearted (and largely unnecessary) efforts at crowd control.
The Las Vegas-based troop, veterans of Cirque de soleil and the Russian State Circus, began their Winnipeg run with a Thursday afternoon show for young school kids (public shows started last night), and by the chaotic finale, they rocked the joint, with at least one seven-year-old happily making his way to the school bus afterwards exclaiming: "That was the best play I've seen!"
If it ends in chaos, it starts with some meticulous clowning courtesy of Boom (Irina Ivanytska), the sole female in the trio, as she attempts some housecleaning, only to fall under the spell of a big red button bearing the cautionary message "Do Not Touch."
A message like that inspires more vocal audience reaction than a Jerry Springer sideshow, at least from the young 'uns who loudly urge Boom to obey or disobey the directive. Her choice results in an appearance by one peeved astronaut (Valery Slemzin) before the narrative dissolves into more random clowning comedy featuring the show's third star, Aga, played by director Dimitri Bogatirev, a guy who can perform juggling miracles with a small suitcase.
The huge sheet of paper that provides the simple backdrop will figure prominently in the action, providing the basis for some delightful illusion. The willingness of the cast to do damage to the paper scrim foreshadows the paper-fighting, balloon-bouncing denouement that feels for all the world like the finale of a particularly exuberant rock festival.
The Russian troupe is all about having a good time, an easy task given Ivanytska's ability to charm and Bogatirev's ability to whiz a toy airplane around himself with astonishing dexterity.
School shows notwithstanding, the sole educational lesson on view here is that, no matter how simple clowning appears to be, it is an art form requiring formidable skills.
Count the members of Aga-Boom as masters of the form.
THEATRE REVIEW
Aga-Boom
Manitoba Theatre for Young People
To Oct. 25
Tickets: $15.75
HHHH out of HHHHH
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 17, 2009 C9
-
WFP Hockey
Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
-
Winnipeg Jets
All things NHL on our Jets landing page
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
-
News Cafe
Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
-
Facebook Fanpage
Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to The Arts
Poll
Most Popular
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife was dead
- Search is on for man seen leaving the scene where two Alberta Mounties were shot
- Province rules out reports of cougar in Transcona
- Slain woman appears before jury on video
- City family donates $1 million for endowed research chair in cardiology
- Census 2011 : Immigrant influx boosts Manitoban population
- Should the federal government be spending $7.5 million on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee?
- LeAnn Rimes in pain following 'minor surgery'
- US teen gets life in prison for killing 9-year-old; called the murder "pretty enjoyable"
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Three winning tickets sold for Friday's $50 million Lotto Max jackpot
- Woman sexually assaulted during noon-hour in Exchange District
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Eleven people killed after truck hits van in southwestern Ontario
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Tactical squad storms St. Vital house
- Restaurant Dubrovnik may be closed for good
- Do you smoke marijuana?
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- George Clooney's prank could end Pitt's career
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Tina Maze strips down to her sports bra to send out underwear message: 'Not your business'
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Two children, two women die in fire
- Kate Beckinsale's weight fears over Underworld catsuit
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Province rules out reports of cougar in Transcona
- Census 2011 : Immigrant influx boosts Manitoban population
- OMG! Candy kings back at it
- Original Joe's, Elephant & Castle expanding
- Easy, economical, healthy soup
- Task force to review 2011 flood
- Winnipeg software company ranked top employer
- Lesson about war, power told with Shaw's comic touch
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Northern fishing lodge destroyed by fire
- Police target drivers talking on cellphones, texting
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Obama torn by conflicting allies
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Time, it appears, is on Assad's side
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Paddler Starkell was modern-day voyageur
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Local shooting spoofed on SNL
- Canadian woman 'badly injured' in Mexico, local media report apparent beating
- Winnipeg mother watches as car stolen with child inside
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- The cost of calories: It's expensive to eat healthily
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.