One of the highlights of this year’s Bath Comedy Festival is the world premiere of Slapstick!, a musical play of the life of England’s most famous clown Joseph Grimaldi.
Be advised though: despite its subject matter, this is not solely, or even principally, a comedic show, detailing as it does the profound darkness of Grimaldi’s life.
Written, produced and directed by Sue Curtis, Slapstick! is clearly a personal passion project.
The set-up is simple. Grimaldi wishes to present to us, the audience, a show of his life story following an endless performance of King Lear, but as his nervous stage manager advises, the other actors have not arrived.
As always, the show must go on, so Grimaldi ploughs on with the show, with his stage manager playing the myriad of other roles, supported by their two sleepy musicians.
The tale covers many of his highlights – childhood stardom, leading to adult acclaim as England’s most popular entertainer of the Regency era, effectively inventing the “clown” as we know it today – but equally many tragedies – continual abuse by his father, the death of his first wife and child, family discord, worsening health problems.
The production excels at turning mood from light to tragedy and back again at a switch, reinforcing the continual dichotomy of comedy and tragedy which befalls many comics’ lives.
We see relatively little of Joey the Clown’s routines, but Act One ends with a stunning sequence of him being created in front of us for the very first time. And Act Two explores the decline and darkness further; at one point Grimaldi challenges us directly about whether we just want to see the pain behind the comedy. It’s a chilling moment, unanswered by the audience.
Performing in the round on a simple stage in Bath’s stunning Old Theatre Royal, the cast of four work seamlessly together. Musicians Harry Miller and Jools Scott sing and play as Greek chorus figures, providing poignant commentary on the story.
As the multi-roling Stage Manager, Nik Howden swings the gamut from high farce (bearded men in ladies’ clothes, always a winner) to anguished trauma (as Grimaldi’s errant son), juggling a bewildering range of characters and costumes.
As Grimaldi, Jon Monie gives a genuine powerhouse performance which belies his customary persona from Theatre Royal panto-land. From the moment he bursts onto stage, he is (as one would expect) fully adroit with the comedy routines, but the revelation is in his frequent moments of pathos, vulnerability, rage and decline, showing utter believability and commitment to all aspects of this complex character.
Slapstick! is showing at Old Theatre Royal Bath until 20th April. Expect to be amused, of course, but prepared also to be saddened and moved.
Tickets: 0844 888 9991 or via Bath Box Office here.
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Reviewer: Steve Huggins
