Rich Payne Upside Comedy Productions

UPSIDE IS ON AN EXTENDED BREAK FROM PERFORMANCE UNTIL WINTER 2009/10.
We are currently scripting new material. However, some limited appearances are still in the works.
Please contact us at upside.comedy@gmail.com
NOTE: new Toronto phone number (416) 519-4525

Miss Sarah Williams Upsided!

Sarah Williams, an Upside Comedy troupe member

is one half of HIM'n'HER (do I need to tell you which?) and one of the RAGING NANNIES. Sarah trained at York and Toronto Film School (including screen acting with Richard McKenna and stage comedy with Rich Payne), and has paid off her tuition by -- yes, working as a Nanny. Sarah is a devotee of vintage sketch comedy, and especially enjoys the work of Judy Holliday (Born Yesterday) and Loni Anderson (WKRP). When not practising comedy, this blond bombshell can be found walking carelessly barefoot on faraway beaches (well, hometown of Collingwood in fact), pursuing wanton hedonism, and of course hoping deeply for world peace. Her upcoming role is MOTHER NATURE in the two-hander HANGIN' LOOSE WITH MAMA GOOSE (for ex-children only).

CLOWN CIRCUS for Ensemble Training

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:

"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)

ATTENTION FORMER JUVENILE MYSTERY READERS!!

THE RETURN OF THE HARDLY BOYS

by Franklin W. Dick, Jr.

(A Pseudonym)

Synopsis (Act One): Case Number 238: Curse of the Hardly Boys. After 80 years of high school, Joe finally takes an interest in girls. But Fenton bursts into flames, the town disappears, and all-too-soon the Amateur Teen Sleuths are running for their lives. Hiding in the jungles of New Guinea, in search of Tom Nifty Junior Wonder Boy Scientist, the Boys meet up with Nancy True, in flight from the demise of her own Series. Joe and Nancy try to consummate sexually, only to discover that none of them has genitals. After the demise of all his chums and even the Narrator himself, the erstwhile Frank soldiers on alone, determined to track down the evil mastermind Strictmire, who has created them all deficient. Gosh! What will happen in Act Two?!

Previously staged in Vancouver and Ottawa

(Full-length version, currently in development)

'POLITICAL CLOWNS' FOR HIRE

For your next workshop, convention, or social event...
Send in a Clown to brighten up the catastrophe!

For the Public Education sector:
MR. ERNEST MUCKLES,
X.O.S.S.T.F.
Attend a retraining session at the Nontario College of Teachers. Let Mr. Muckles show you how to stand on one foot (to fit the newest funding formula). Create classroom materials at no cost to anyone but yourself. And build your own Rubrics Cube! Remember to bring an apple.

For the Voting Public:
HON. TONY FALONEY,
MINISTER OF PUBLIC
ACCOUNTABILITY
Faloney crosses the floor after every election and sits with the government of the day. As Minister of Public Accountability, it is his job to show you how it's you the public who are accountable for everything that's gone wrong. Enjoy being smugly ignored in this lively Town Hall Forum.

For Family Audiences:
HERR PROFESSOR HEINRICH
VON BEEFLESTROOPER
Possibly the World's Worst Magician, the Professor will prove beyond doubt that your kid is smarter than he is. Then, mercifully, he will make himself disappear.

For Adult Audiences:
FUBAR THE KLOWN
Nasty, cranky, down-and-dirty... You'll feel much better about yourself after you hear his unparalleled tales of woe. But don't let him go home with you.

For Post-911 Conspiranoids:
SGT. NORMAN STORM
BORDERLINE SECURITY
We can't possibly cope alone in such a dangerous world. Learn what makes a border porous. How to spot an obvious terrorist. And how to intimidate your neighbours. Audience responses may be monitored for quality by CSIS.


CONTACT: upside.comedy@gmail.com for Availability and Rates.

The Gallopping Gazoonie Bros.

Put us under your tree for
a MERRY YULETIDE 2009
(fight that 2009 Depression!)