Malice and Delight: Toppers

I will admit at the start that I am not a big fan of physical comedy.  I do believe that part of any creative process is pushing the boundaries of subject matter that can be explored by a particular medium or style or genre.  Malice and Delight uses clowning to examine jealousy, insecurity, and competition.  This may not be the best fit.

The two actors in this production, M. PyressFlame and Priscilla Costa met in clown school and both have extensive experience in clowning and improv.  They work well together and play off each other beautifully, but it does not seem to be enough to offer any kind of depth or insight.  We see five skits of two life-long rivals:  in a hospital nursery, in preschool, at a high school cheerleading try out, at a workplace interview, and in a seniors’ care facility.  As infants the rivalry began – one was the beautiful, the other described as a monkey.  One baby was happy while the other was cranky.  This theme continues for the 45-minute production.

I didn’t feel there was enough of a resolution at the end.  The ending seemed rushed, as if not much thought had gone into concluding the story by making a statement about how the women led their lives and the impact of their rivalry.    

For those interested, the play is at Performance Works on Granville Island.