Preview: A Thousand Clowns at Intiman Theatre
Herb Gardner’s comedy, A Thousand Clowns, was nominated for the Tony Award and the Academy Award for its film adaptation:
Set against the backdrop of live children’s television, A Thousand Clowns takes place in 1962, when the agents of Eisenhower-era conformity first began to clash with the free-thinkers who would one day change the world. Sari Ketter, who staged Intiman’s acclaimed 2008 production of The Diary of Anne Frank, directs.
The production features Matthew Boston as Murray, an anti-establishment New Yorker, and Nick Robinson as his nephew Nick, a 12-year-old genius who brings “The Man” into their lives when he writes a school essay on the advantages of Unemployment Insurance.
So when Nick writes a school essay on the advantages of Unemployment Insurance, their home life is investigated by a psychologist and a social worker from the Child Welfare Board — and Murray is forced to choose between rebellion and responsibility.
This production at Intiman Theatre will feature a selection of some great local actors. David Pichette (Arnold Burns) is one of my favorite Seattle actors. Just finishing a role in ACT Theatre’s production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Pichette is such a versatile actor capable of a wide range of characters; from his hilarious role in Seattle Rep Theatre’s The Imaginary Invalid, to his feat of having played nearly every character in ACT Theatre’s annual production of A Christmas Carol, even the Bread Lady.
Nick Robinson (Nick Burns) made his breakout performance at 5th Avenue Theatre’s production of Mame playing Young Patrick and had a major role as Jem Finch in Intiman’s To Kill A Mockingbird two years ago, however, I will always see him playing his perennial role of the Turkey Boy in A Christmas Carol at ACT Theatre.
Sari Ketter and Matthew Boston (Murray Burns) both appeared in Intiman’s The Diary of Anne Frank. Bradford Farwell (Albert Amundson) just finished playing Dr. Henry Jekyll in ACT Theater’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Tim Hyland (Leo Herman) performed last year at Intiman in A Streetcar Named Desire and Julie Jesneck (Sandra Markowitz) made her Broadway debut in Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘n’ Roll. But to actually list out the full stage and TV credits for all these actors would take up a lot of space. You can trust that this is a talented group.
Tickets to A Thousand Clowns range from $40 to $55, which runs from May 15 – June 17, 2009. All patrons who were 12 years old in 1962 will receive $12 off the adult-ticket price, with proof of age. Don’t miss ‘Round Six Happy Hour on Friday, June 12 beginning at 6pm where Intiman hosts a free pre-show happy hour with hors d’oeuvres, drinks and live music.
Patrons 25 and under can purchase tickets to any performance for $10. Also, pending availability, rush tickets will be sold 15 minutes before curtain for $20. Intiman offers a pay-what-you-can performance (with a $5 suggested minimum per ticket) on Friday, May 22 at 8pm. Ironically, this production is recommended for ages 12 and up.
For more info and tickets, visit www.intiman.org.
