Quick Hit Review: Cirque de Legume

Jamie Carswell and Nancy Trotter Landry. Photo by Mark Fearon.

Cirque de Legume
with Jamie Carswell and Nancy Trotter Landry
Directed by Pablo Ibarluzea
at 59E59 Theaters, NYC

Summary:
Two clowns use a variety of produce to create little vignettes and gags. A head of lettuce becomes "Dusty," a dog who jumps for his carrot treats; leeks are used as whips to train a Spanish carrot-chomping horse; a clown is hypnotized by a a swinging beet among other scenarios.

Highlights:
--Watching audience members double over in laughter at flying greenery, spit carrots and onion sex "a peel."
--I enjoyed audience remarks like, "He can really take a leek" and "Dusty bites the dust" probably more than watching two clowns assault each other with vegetables, but that's just me, not being a fan of clowns or food messes.
--I also enjoyed watching my friend Vickey laugh at the projectile carrot pieces, but I really am not sure whether she was laughing at them or at the fact that I kept trying to avoid all contact with any of them, (not being a fan of clowns or food messes).
--Landry's maniacal facial expressions. There's something scary -- and funny -- there.

Lowlights:
-- "How About That?" as the clowns ask for applause gets repeated just a few too many times in the 50-minute performance.

More information:
Out of Dublin, Cirque de Legume is part of the Irish series at 59E59. It runs through Oct. 2. Tickets and information www.cirquedelegume.

For those of you who DO like clowns and food mess, there is a special 90-minute clown workshop Saturday, Sept. 17 for everyone 16 and older.

Christians might also like to know:
No notes. Enjoy (if you like clowns and food mess).