SLAP HAPPY
By MICHAEL SMITH World Entertainment Writer, 10/23/2002
A scientist seeks anonymity behind the makeup of a clown at the circus after being humiliated in front of his peers in “He Who Gets Slapped.” Shown from left, Angelica, played by Jenny Jackson, Tilly, played by James Wilson, and Polly, played by Heather Smith, carry Tiddly, played by Shana Futscher. Below: From left, HE, played by Dale Sams, Zinida, played by Sara Cruncleton and Papa Briquet, played by Ken Spence, share a scene in “He Who Gets Slapped.” A. CUERVO/Tulsa World
Clown princes of local theater find perfect material by Russian playwright
Since beginning the Midwestern Theater Troupe eight years ago, John Cruncleton and his players have produced either original plays or works by William Shakespeare.
But after eight years and a bit of maturity -- the young artist is all of 28 now -- Cruncleton's decided to branch out, for the first time producing and directing a work by a more contemporary writer than the Bard.
The choice? "He Who Gets Slapped," a tragicomedy by Leonid Andreyev, a Russian playwright who penned this tale of circus clowns, humiliation and revenge more than 80 years ago.
An obscure choice that almost no one has ever heard of? Absolutely, even if you're referring to the 1924 silent film of the work starring Lon Chaney. But upon closer examination, it's a perfect fit for Midwestern, the clown princes of local theater.
Life at the circus and the guys in grease paint have been featured in Midwestern originals "Romolo the Great" and "Warm, Delicious Play" and other works by Cruncleton for years. In each case, there were plenty of tragic tears behind all the laughter.
The Shakespeare connection is obvious as well, Cruncleton says.
"What I like about the circus is that I think it's an exaggeration of the everyday. It takes the commonplace and stretches it until it becomes unusual," he said. "I think Shakespeare is the granddaddy of the circus. All that bravado, that just appeals to me. I think that with these really broad strokes you can somehow miraculously produce these really fine emotional details, and that is what I've always wanted to emulate in my work."
No emotional details are spared in "He Who Gets Slapped," a baldly melodramatic tale of a scientist who's humiliated -- literally slapped in the face -- in front of his peers by his friend and then by his wife, leading him to seek anonymity behind the makeup of a clown at the circus. HE, as he comes to be known to wildly appreciative audiences in 1915 France, is the clown who is slapped repeatedly for fun.
But in this behind-the-scenes play, HE longs for Consuelo, the bareback rider, who loves another and is perhaps going to be purchased by still another man. Conflict and oddity abounds in this work, including murder, suicide and bestiality, and only mature audiences should attend.
"The whole play takes place backstage at the circus, so you get to see all these performers with their guard down, behind the scenes," Cruncleton said. "They're artists, and they're sensitive in that way that an artist is, and they've got these emotional troubles that artists have, and they've got these intense relationships with one another, and in this script everyone is in love with someone who doesn't love them back. I mean, if you tried to draw all the love lines in this script, you'd just have a squiggly mess."
An unusual set design and detailed period costuming add to the setting for this show, which the director has toyed with producing for many years.
"This particular play is one I read a long time ago, when I was first trying to write scripts. I picked up this theater anthology book for 50 cents at a thrift store in high school, and read the script and thought it was wonderful," said Cruncleton, who admits that the play has been a source of inspiration for some of his original works.
Starring as HE is Dale Sams, one of several Midwestern Theater Troupe regulars in the show. Other cast members include Sarah McKemie, Ken Spence, Sara Cruncleton, Joseph Gomez, Jim Milburn, Todd Murray, James Wilson, Heather Smith, Owen Froeschle, David Jefferies, Jenny Jackson and Steve Nuchia.
Michael Smith, World Entertainment Writer, can be reached at 581-8334 or via e-mail at michael.smith@tulsaworld.com.
What: "He Who Gets Slapped," a play produced by Midwestern Theater Troupe
When: 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, also 8 p.m. Oct. 31, Nov. 1-2
Where: Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth St.
Tickets: $5, may be reserved by calling 583-8487 [As of February 2007, 633-8666]; NOTE: for mature audiences only