Also this issue:

In Bloom
The Rosenbach Museum’s slew of upcoming Ulysses programs will entertain Joyce devotees and newcomers alike.
-Toby Zinman

Rocking the Boat

Theater

-Morgen Rossmair

He Held Me Grand

Theater

-Morgen Rossmair

One More One Man of La Mancha

Theater

-Debra Auspitz

From Generation to Generation

Art

-Lori Hill

May 23-29, 2002

theater

All in the Timing

by Toby Zinman

FlopThrough May 26, Pig Iron Theatre Co. at Christ Church Annex, Second and Church sts., 215-627-1883

If ever a show was misnamed, Flop is it.

Clowns -- the giant-shoe, circus variety -- usually make me unhappy and uncomfortable; they seem so sad under the painted-on smiles, and their situations seem so painful. And, because those old-fashioned clowns often just do stupid stuff like bop each other on the head and fall over, I get bored after a couple of minutes.

But these three wonderful clowns, with classic red noses and goofy clothes (costumes by Molly Hanisch), are so charming, so human and so funny, that this hourlong show completely won me over.

Like the geniused Bill Irwin, whose Beckettian clowning is so engrossing because it's about something, as well as awe-inspiring for its physical prowess, Nichole Canuso, Lee Etzold and Emmanuelle Delpech are able to create distinct characters wordlessly. Some of this is body language and some of it springs from those glances and gazes out to the audience that ask us to understand and share their situation. It's the oddest kind of intimacy that both invites us in and keeps us out -- or at least off the stage. Much credit, too, to Dan Rothenberg, who directs, and James Sugg, who provides the terrific sound effects.

There is not only a ton of talent here, but a plot (about time and the cosmos -- now there's a surprise topic for a laugh riot). During a tea party, one of the clowns electrocutes herself. Another clown resuscitates her by turning back time -- she literally takes the clock off the wall and twirls its hands counterclockwise. This proves irresistible, and she overdoes the twirling. Time breaks. The sun sets. Darkness and cold is upon the world. What's a girl to do?

Well, fix it. With bravery, imagination, courage, etc., etc. As role models, these girls are great. (Bring your daughters, bring your sons.) As human beings messing up the environment and then -- wonder of wonders -- figuring how to undo the mess they've made, these girls are great. (Bring the Republicans, bring the Democrats.)

The show struck me -- for a minute, anyway -- as a homage to Stephen Hawking, the physicist whose wheelchair-bound, nearly silent brilliance has illuminated the creation of the universe, what has been called the "dance of geometry." (His book, A Brief History of Time, figures into the show.)

How seriously you want to take all its metaphoric possibilities is your business, and even if you don't give Flop a thought, you'll enjoy it. For good or ill, I thought about it, and I wound up wishing the show had more courage of its ideas and didn't keep backing away in apparent embarrassment from the immense issues it raises. Or maybe I just got carried away. This happens occasionally. Whatever. I had a good time.