ALFRED JARRY'S CIRCUS LUDICROUS
presents BOSS UBU
by Richard Payne, with National Lampoon's Brian Shein
Loosely adapted from Jarry's Ubu Roi (Ubu the King) of 1896
This theatre-clown play (in both one-act and full-length versions) is an excellent project for high schools and post-secondary training programs, for Clown labs or as a practicum for Birth of the Modern Theatre/Absurdism history units.
It has been successfully staged at universities (Carleton, UVic, Trent, and Saskatchewan), colleges (Algonquin), and youtheatres (Saugeen Theatre Workshop/Sears Regional Drama Festival).
Jarry created the first work of avant-garde theatre, "Ubu Roi" in 1896. We have reconstituted this bombastic anti-play (lampooning Oedipus and Shakespeare) as a contemporary living political cartoon, with Jarry himself the ringmaster of a one-ring clown circus:
presents BOSS UBU
by Richard Payne, with National Lampoon's Brian Shein
Loosely adapted from Jarry's Ubu Roi (Ubu the King) of 1896
This theatre-clown play (in both one-act and full-length versions) is an excellent project for high schools and post-secondary training programs, for Clown labs or as a practicum for Birth of the Modern Theatre/Absurdism history units.
It has been successfully staged at universities (Carleton, UVic, Trent, and Saskatchewan), colleges (Algonquin), and youtheatres (Saugeen Theatre Workshop/Sears Regional Drama Festival).
Jarry created the first work of avant-garde theatre, "Ubu Roi" in 1896. We have reconstituted this bombastic anti-play (lampooning Oedipus and Shakespeare) as a contemporary living political cartoon, with Jarry himself the ringmaster of a one-ring clown circus:
"Tonight! -- Boss! Ubu! -- will seize the entire World and swallow it whole, then blow it out his backside into the deepest regions of Outer Space where, without a net, he will attempt to hold onto everything he has taken!!"
The author regularly updates the political refererences to reflect current shenanigans, and there are sections of the script that require ensemble improv to flesh out the action. Cast size and gender are extremely flexible. (The author can provide introductory theatre clown workshops if requested.)
Reviews: "Bright and uproarious comedy" (Ottawa Today) "Carefully-layered lampoon" (Ottawa Journal) "Imaginative ensemble fantasmagoria... an unexpected delight" (Vancouver Sun) "splendid... gloriously theatrical" (CBC Radio Arts National)
The author regularly updates the political refererences to reflect current shenanigans, and there are sections of the script that require ensemble improv to flesh out the action. Cast size and gender are extremely flexible. (The author can provide introductory theatre clown workshops if requested.)
Reviews: "Bright and uproarious comedy" (Ottawa Today) "Carefully-layered lampoon" (Ottawa Journal) "Imaginative ensemble fantasmagoria... an unexpected delight" (Vancouver Sun) "splendid... gloriously theatrical" (CBC Radio Arts National)
