Theatre L'Acadie is known for edgy satire while bringing deeply human themes to the absurd situations of life. The first production I saw from L'Acadie was called The Swan, which tells the tale of a woman who takes in an injured swan. The anthropomorphic swan was both comic and heartbreaking in its vulnerability. Big Time Toppers takes the absurdity to a new level. Harlow (Hannah Antman) and Stubs (Jamaque Newberry) are aspiring professional clowns who are desperate to be a part of the Ripley Brothers Circus. They have to try for the last opening before they turn 30, and the clock is ticking. What could go wrong?
Harlow and Stubbs have spent their 20s in crappy apartments with funky-smelling furniture and want to get to the big top. Along the way, they are dazzled by the legendary clown, Jimmy Knives, played with moustache-twirling relish by Quinn Leary. There is the adage, 'never meet your heroes,' that gets turned on its head in a crazed turn of events. The direction by co-artistic director Brandii Champagne of the script by Patrick Vermillion was sharp and seamless. The success of a farce depends on timing and crisp delivery of what may seem like psychobabble.
The aspiring clowns encounter additional obstacles as they attempt to reach the audition. They are called into their humiliating jobs at the Rouge Canard—the worst French restaurant owned by the shady gambler Eddie (Shane Rhodes). Eddie is on the run from his bookie and has come into possession of rare medieval knives. In a juggling practice gone awry, Stubs ends up impaled in the thigh, and a crazed Harlow makes him work through the pain. Rhodes's character is reminiscent of someone who gets whacked in a Scorsese movie. Perfectly, the restaurant is named the Rouge Canard (Red Duck), fitting in with the garish red velvet curtains and dark, moody atmosphere. I would not want to know what is stored in the freezer.
There is subtlety in farce that comes from smartly placed visuals. Harlow's sparkly clown hat features a white ball on the end that bobs about, creating a bizarre visual effect. The knife in Stubs's thigh creates a rude double entendre as he tries to hide it with an apron. A storm blows into town, bringing Stubs's sister Billie (Kandace Mack) to the Rouge Canard. Mack shines as a sweet medical student who has run off to join the circus. Her Jekyll and Hyde personas are hilarious, giving her dialogue an edge. Everyone in Big Time Toppers is in a race against time, causing bizarre coincidences and slapstick antics. It's full of belly laughs and the right touch of pathos.
Big Time Toppers is a fine farce that asks and answers the question, "How far would you go to achieve your dreams?" I recommend checking it out if you enjoy dark humor and can laugh at the foibles of ambition. These days, it's a requirement to get through the day. The show clocks in at 100 minutes with no intermission. It is now playing through July 26 at the Redtwist Theatre, located at 1044 W. Bryn Mawr in the Edgewater neighborhood. Theatre L'Acadie has a mission to make theater accessible to everyone through its sliding scale ticket pricing. The suggested ticket price is $30, and it is worth keeping live theater thriving.
For more information on this and other productions, see theatreinchicago.com.
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