Review: 500 Clown Frankenstein (500 Clown Theatre)

  
  
500 Clown Frankenstein 

Created by Adrian Danzig, Paul Kalina,
  Molly Brennan and Leslie Buxbaum Danzig
Directed by Adrian Danzig
at Viaduct Theatre, 3111 N. Western (map)
thru Nov 18  |  tickets: $20-$25   |  more info
  
Check for half-price tickets 
  
  
       
  

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Rated G for a good, goofy and guffaw for all

500 Clown presents

500 Clown Frankenstein

Review by Katy Walsh 

A scientist, a storyteller and a helper walk into a room…

Mary Shelley’s classic “Frankenstein” becomes the catalyst for zany antics.  The monster story goes vaudeville as 500 Clown presents 500 Clown Frankenstein.   The rotating cast is five interchangeable actors.  Each show has three performers telling the story of life from death but clown-style.  It’s playtime.  And these are professional players. 

For my performance, I saw  Pam Chermansky (storyteller), Adrian Danzig (scientist), and Jay Torrence (helper) mash it up.  Chermansky serves as the main narrator.  She introduces a bunch of different characters with her distinct vocal stylings.  She is hysterical!  The trio morph together with precision slapstick.  Torrence uses deadpan to zing the punchline.  Danzig serves as the straight guy herding the buffoonery.  They utilize a makeshift laboratory table as the structure to showcase their physicality.  The results are a fun frolic. 

500 Clown premiered the original 500 Clown Frankenstein years ago.  It was created by Leslie Buxbaum Danzig, Adrian Danzig, Paul Kalina and Molly Brennan.  Danzig returns in this version as performer and director.  Although the structure remains the same, the new cast bring their own clown personas to this newest version.  

Despite the horror genre, this is much more Mel Brooks then Boris Karlov’s “Frankenstein.”  It wasn’t spooky.  It was kooky!  My audience had a bunch of kids and they were having a blast!  Part of the amusement for me was watching the kids respond to the clowns and the clowns respond to the kids.  

500 Clown Frankenstein is rated G for a good, goofy guffaw for all.

Rating: ★★★

500 Clown Frankenstein continues through November 18th at Viaduct Theatre, 3111 N. Western (map), with performances Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays 3pm.  Tickets are $20-$25, and are available online at BrownPaperTickets.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at 500Clown.com.  (Running time: 70 minutes, no intermission)

Photos by Justin Barbin 

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artists

cast

Dean Evans, Jay Torrence, Adrian Danzig, Pam Chermansky, Leah Urzendowski

behind the scenes

Adrian Danzig (director, co-creator); Molly Brennan, Paul Kalina, Leslie Buxbaum Danzig (co-creators); Rebecca Stevens (associate producer); Dan Reilly (set design, master builder); Lee Keenan(lighting); Jay Sangster (costumes); Jim Moore (tech director); Clare Roche (stage manager); Stephen Murray (script supervisor); Justin Barbin (photos)