Rudy & Cuthbert, June 15, 2019 ***1/2

THEATRE / CLOWN
by Toby Blome and Zelman Cressey-Gladwin 

Southbank Theatre, The Lawler, until June 22, 2019 

Reviewer: Kate Herbert 

Stars: 3&1/2

L-R_Toby Blome and Zelman Cressey-Gladwin_Pic by Phil Erbacher

The two bumbling clowns in Rudy & Cuthbert blunder about in wide-eyed, childlike incompetence like children trying to be grown-ups.

In the classic clown tradition, they never achieve their goal, which, in this case, is to stage a production of the dramatic courtroom drama, Twelve Angry Men, an absurd and inevitably doomed ambition for only two actors.

Rudy (Toby Blome) and Cuthbert (Zelman Cressey-Gladwin) are startled to discover their audience already seated and waiting for the play to start, despite the performers not having finished rehearsing (or even started?) and having no set. Every actor’s nightmare!

Using mostly silent, physical comedy and parody, peppered with rudimentary dialogue, the hapless Rudy and Cuthbert embark on a series of ill-fated tasks, including constructing a tiny table (without an allen key!), carefully positioning toddlers’ pink chairs, auditioning audience members, and playing gung-ho, He-Man stage technicians. Even changing costumes causes chaos.

Directed by Ellen Cressey, Blome and Cressey-Gladwin are a warm and charming duo as they collaborate and compete, support and undermine, make mistakes and apologise, and engage directly but gently with their audience through gesture and comic facial expressions.

Undaunted, they continue to muddle through with the bewildered attitude and misplaced confidence of kids unwilling to admit they are way out of their depth.

This duo follows the clown heritage of Chaplin, Keaton and Australia’s own Lano and Woodley and Los Trios Ringbarkus. (Note the family resemblance to Neill Gladwin from Los Trios.)

The production could benefit from greater exaggeration or heightening of some comic business and perhaps more intense complicity between the characters and with their audience.

Ultimately, Rudy & Cuthbert is an engaging, sometimes enchanting short show that highlights the joyful idiocy of clowns. This duo thrives on audience reaction so a full house is optimum. Bring your friends.

by Kate Herbert