Herb Gardner’s A Thousand Clowns, a comedy about an unconventional family in a deeply conventional time, is now playing at the Intiman Playhouse, with performances till June 17. This timeless classic, debuted on Broadway in 1963 and has held up in the intervening years. Playwright Herb Gardner won the Tony award for Best Play for A Thousand Clowns and the play was later made into a Academy Award-nominated film.
The production features a fine acting group who collaborate flawlessly on stage starting with Matthew Boston as Murray, the glib tongued anti-establishment uncle to Nick (Nick Robinson), who is only 12-years-old and is already showing signs of being a genius.
Into their laid back lifestyle appears Bradford Farwell as Albert Amundson and Julie Jesneck as Sandra Markowitz. They both have come to check up on how Nick is being raised by his seemingly free spirited unemployed uncle. Rounding out the cast is Tim Hyland as Leo Herman, aka “Chuckles the Chipmunk” and David Pichette as Arnold, Murray’s brother. Overall, the cast is first rate.
A couple of actors deserve special mention. Nick Robinson as Nick is warm, loving very smart child and that is established as soon as he appears on stage. Also, Tim Hyland as “Chuckles the Chipmunk” does a wonderful job of being funny with very non-funny material. I kept thinking, “Chuckless the Chipmunk”.
The year is 1962 and the place is New York City and Murray and Nick live in a one room high rise which has all the charm of a SRO (single room occupancy). But they manage, from having file cabinets used as dresser drawers to a routine that fits them both. When Murray has a guest spend the night it’s been arranged for Nick to spend the night at a neighbors. Murray is a writer for TV shows and he has grown tired of is last job of writing jokes and lines for the Chuckles the Chipmunk show. He has enjoyed not having a job and gives words of wisdom to Nick about the joy of being free. His brother, Arnold, who is also his agent, does not share his same view.
Nick shares his uncle’s views about many of his ideas, which generates a visit from well meaning social workers, Mr. Amundson and Ms. Markowitz to determine if his uncle is a fit guardian to raise a 12-year-old child. This leads up to the important theme of the play which is an internal classic struggle between being true to yourself or sometimes doing what you need to for survival. Help, of a sort, does appear with Leo, who’s Chuckles the Chipmunk character is not funny but rather frighting and sad; would not want to watch that children show. But with this tight, well acted group, all the doubts and loose ends come together in the end in a classic way.
Director Sari Ketter has a strong sense of timing and the action’s use of the stage is well balanced. The set and clothing is a backdrop that helps convey the Eisenhower- era conformity, well before the later changes of the infamous “60’s” that was to come.
A Thousand Clowns plays now through June 17, 2009. All patrons who were 12 years old in 1962 will receive $12 off the adult-ticket price, with proof of age. Tickets range in price from $40 to $55 and patrons 25 and under can purchase tickets to any performance for $10. Pending availability, rush tickets will be sold 15 minutes before curtain for $20. Also check out $25 Tuesdays at Intiman. This production is recommended for ages 12 and up. For more info, visit www.intiman.org.
– Ethel W.
