A hit at just about every previous Hollywood Fringe Festival, the Four Clowns troupe returns to the 2015 HFF with its latest production, The Halfwits’ Last Hurrah (a world premiere). Featuring a 12-person cast plus pianist Wayne H. Holland, the show (written by Jamie Franta and Don Colliver) tells the semi-demented story of a vainglorious showman (Colliver) and his goofy cohorts as they battle to keep a jealous ghost from thwarting their creative efforts.
The flimsy storyline is beaded with blackout skits, songs, dance, gymnastics, puppetry, stilt-walking and knife tricks. The action is fast and furious, the humor broad and bawdy, and there is much good-natured give and take between performers and audience. It makes for a homey and rib-tickling evening–just the kind of thing youthful festival-goers respond to warmly.
Four Clowns is an LA-based company that spends much of its time on the road: its critically acclaimed productions have been seen in Brazil, NYC, San Francisco and Las Vegas, as well as most of southern California. The company has recently expanded its administrative staff and begun a collaboration with influential clown teacher, David Bridel. Obviously, clowning is alive and well in L.A.
