Theater Review: Ghetto Klown

John Leguizamo’s Autobiographical Journey to Find Meaning By Lauren Yarger John Leguizamo shares his journey of battling forces that didn’t always work in his favor, and which he doesn’t always understand -- a.k.a. life -- in a autobiographical one-man show playing Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre.

The TV and film actor returns to the stage (previous works include Freak, Sexaholic … a Love Story, Spic-o-rama and Mambo Mouth) for a “soul exchange” in which he shares, among other things, stories about growing up with an abusive father, his failed first marriage, his almost-failed second marriage, and how he got along as a Latino actor in show business, eventually starring with some of Hollywood’s biggest names in films like “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everythng Julie Newmar,” the Leonardo DiCaprio version of “Romeo & Juliet” and “Carlito’s Way.”

The story is recreated for clarity, he tells us, but there is a lot in the two-and-a-half-hour performance, including vulnerability and willingness to share that makes the story interesting and personal. Humor, video projections, music and dance moves enhance the production, directed by Fisher Stevens.

Most of all, there is a feeling of truth in the actor’s discoveries that fame and fortune aren’t all he thought they would be. Friends come and go, he has to come to terms with his father and he finds therapy and what he comes to define as “religion” in writing and performing his plays.

Ghetto Klown runs through July 10 at the Lyceum, 149 West 45th St., NYC. For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or 800-432-7250.

Christians might also like to know:
 Show posts a Mature advisory
 Strong Language
 God’s name taken in vain
 Sexual dialogue
 Drug use depicted
Note: Some of the jokes are in Spanish.