A Circus in Two Acts

Overview

Based on author Evie Klein’s childhood around her clown brother, A Circus in Two Acts looks at the greatest show on earth through the lives of its performers. This surrealist look under the big top will ask audiences when performing stops and ends. The two one acts can be described as follows:

Don’t Drink the Yellow Water: What happens when you put two clowns in one room: four giant-toed shoes. The play centers around the dressing room of two clowns: Bubbles and Meatball, as they prepare for their act. What begins as zany and wild gossip between the pair will devolve into an existential debate on the lives of clowns, exploring themes including stability, love, and death. What has become the greatest show on earth will abruptly end with the call of the ringmaster, leading both clowns to exit the stage ironically for their performance. My vision is to have the two actors applying their own clown makeup both to create a realistic scene, but also to serve as a device to reveal what’s underneath.

The Buffalo Play: After vegan activists report to shut down a circus on charges of animal abuse, a ringmaster and buffalo trainer break out into argument over who’s fault is it that the show is going under. Before nearly ripping each other’s heads off, the scene is broken by Baby the Buffalo, who abandons her position on all fours to deliver a monologue on performance, America, and general buffalo facts. This surrealist look at issues plaguing the modern circus will make audiences question who’s really performing, and why the fuck would any circus put a buffalo center stage?

About the Artist

Evie Klein is a writer, humorist, and meme account administrator based in Philly hailing from New Jersey. Her grandmother and brother our clowns. She believes they can be found in every joke she's ever told.