Circus / clowning
Review: Don’t Do It, Don’t Do It, Do It!, The Wardrobe Theatre – ‘Fun-filled yet deeply heartful look at sexuality, womanhood and modern society’
Clown Zuma Puma delights in this fun-filled yet deeply heartful look at sexuality, womanhood and modern society, told through a whirlwind of humorous interludes. It’s sometimes crass, sometimes absurd, but always thought provoking.
There is no denying that out of all styles of performance, clowning is perhaps the riskiest; that certain nuance of theatre characterised by masks, physical comedy and sometimes outrageous audience participation.
This already challenging medium is only made more difficult when the performer tries to project a certain theme or social meaning into the arena of clowning. Contrasting a dark subtext with absurdist comedy is tricky.
is needed now More than ever
Zuma Puma, Don’t Do It, Don’t Do It, DO IT – photo: Rob Voodoo
Enter Zuma Puma, real name Nelly Scott. Her style blends traditional clowning forms with mask work, puppetry and music. In Don’t do it, don’t do it, DO IT! Zuma reflects on her own experiences of womanhood through her clowning forms.
Whilst on the surface it could be described monochromatic, the performance is full of hidden colour. Zuma’s stage presence is electrifying, with the audience not just eating out of her hands but gorging themselves as she takes on an introspective deep dive (sometimes literally) into herself.
The piece centres around a dialogue between Zuma and this inner voice, which seems to be representative of both societal expectations and toxic masculinity. Zuma switches seamlessly between these archetypes, and weaves a hilarious narrative about body image, sexuality and objectification.
Photo: Rob Voodoo
There are other characters too, three stereotypical ‘male’ figures who she inhabits with the various applications of a fake moustache.
A cave-dwelling demon-like figure, who acts as Zuma’s fairy godmother-come-angel, sings a beautifully arranged number about empowerment which ultimately leads to Zuma’s triumphant resolution.
The one protagonist that will not be forgotten is of course, the talking vagina, who Zuma reveals from under her party dress. This puppet pudendum steals the show, with its backing singing and goggle-eyed innocence.
Zuma Puma, Don’t Do It, Don’t Do It, DO IT – poster: Ben C Dwyer
As you can see, it’s quite hard to define such a piece as this, and it would be easy for this mixture of themes, characters and ideas to rupture into something messy and tangled.
However, Zuma is able to blend these subjects into a coherent, funny and meaningful creation. I don’t need to box this play into any type of genre or archetype.
But if I took anything away from the performance, it is about the power of inner, hidden voices to break boxes down, and help us to live more freely. So let it all out and laugh.
To keep in touch with forthcoming Zuma Puma events and clown courses, follow @zumapuma.clownlife on Insta.
Main photo: Rob Voodoo
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