“Your entrance was good, his was better. The difference… showmanship“. I am not sure if Ciaran Dowd was paying attention when Jim Carrey’s Riddler first said this but boy has he nailed it.

Last year Don Rodolfo proved to be that out-of-nowhere hit that gets the whole fringe talking. This year however it was time to release that tricky second album, there was always a chance that he would do an Alanis and never again quite reach those lofty heights… However, when the dry ice had settled, this clown may just have dropped his ‘Thriller’!

This show has everything, it is a truly intricate performance – there’s magic, dancing, singing, comedy and some of the best ‘worst’ acting ever committed on a stage. The entrance alone is well worth the price of admission. 

This show is the story of Don Rodolfo Martini Toyota’s journey from legendary swordsman and Lothario to a man of the cloth in search of the devil. It is exactly as absurd as it sounds and all the better for it.

I thought that I would miss his co-star ‘Horse’ following his tragic death at the end of last year’s show but he has been replaced by the absent minded Owl who proves to be an excellent addition.

Despite it’s silliness I actually find myself not wanting to give anything away of the plot. This is a show that deserves to be seen and a definite clown on the rise.

I loved it and even though I will never be able to hear the “America” song from West Side Story in quite the same way again it is an incredibly a small price to pay for one of the best shows I have seen this year.

I truly hope that there is a trilogy show to come… and if there is can I please buy my tickets now?

Clown Stars: * * * * *

 @The Pleasance – Edinburgh