“Party of One” celebrates traditional American clowning while employing lesser known styles (Pochinko, European, Native American) and seeking an “edgy” flavor. Because clowing has been labeled "dated," it's easier for it to become "hip" again. Consider this: “Party of One” was dubbed “Best Clown Show” in the 2007 San Francisco Fringe Festival. (Meaning it must have had competition.)
The humor that does exist is largely “clown traditional,” a.k.a. corny. For instance, as Captain Melisande Blue, Noel Williams at one point “chases” a suitcase around the stage, reaching after it in such a way as to seemingly not notice her own feet pushing it around. But comedy is not its only goal.
Captain Blue’s story (writing by Williams and director Sue Morrison) begins with her arrival at a train station, the sole setting, supplemented with four pieces of luggage, turnstile, fan and a “teller window” (paper sign/drawing attached to the wall). She explains to the crowd that she’s on the run because she “loved somebody too much.” Throughout the show, she also talks to herself and her imagined friends (usually “men”—pieces of luggage she’s interested in).
Captain Blue cries and relates experiences and fears. As opposed to the best-known type of clowning, laughing at the clumsy and downtrodden, “Party of One” garners empathy—hearing the occasional back story and seeing her “court” as she does (“Wanna get married? Oh, I know, it’s too soon for that, right?”), one feels that perhaps we’re all a few hard knocks from a similar fate.
“Party of One” is essentially a one-woman show about unluckiness in love with some physical clownery and costuming thrown in (tattered clothes, red nose and white face paint). But after the better comedy antics, a turn to serious seems a let-down—and vice-versa. “Party of One” keeps audiences’ interest, except from some dragging toward the end, and does an admirable job of tugging at the heartstrings. But it would’ve worked better as either a one-woman show on the perils of love or a full-blown exercise in clownery. Instead, it comes across as a muddy mixture of the two.
NOTE: The Nov. 16 show is followed by a talk, “Working in the Smallest Mask,” hosted by Keland Scher. Noel Williams also performs an occasional clown act as part of Prop Theatre’s Beast Women After Dark series.
Reviewed by Centerstage!