Multi-talented performer Bill Irwin came to campus Friday for an original performance at the CFA Theater, “An Evening with Bill Irwin.” For an hour and a half, this playwright, actor, choreographer and director shared the unique experience he holds with the “baggy pants heritage” of being a clown.
The standing-room only audience seemed eager to find out what exactly, Irwin would be presenting. An assortment of clown costumes and accessories on the far left side of the stage offered the only clue of what the night might incorporate.
“I didn’t even know what it was going to be, my friends just told me to go, that Bill Irwin was very talented,” said Jeff Wong ’08. “I am glad I went. It turned out to be really good.”
Irwin’s performance was prefaced by remarks by Professor of Theater Ron Jenkins. Jenkins praised Irwin’s achievements and highlighted the great fortune of the audience to see a master of comic performance in such a personal setting.
After Jenkins spoke, Irwin emerged and explained that the night would be an informal look into the world of clowning and what makes the antics of a clown so funny to people of all ages. As long as he could remember, he revealed, the legacy of vaudeville and clowns had fascinated him.
Irwin tap-danced, ran in circles, and folded his body into a crate. He recited dramatic monologues and performed a scene from William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. More than once, he invited visiting artists and Wesleyan theater and dance students to join him on stage. The night, however, was only part-performance: it was also part-lecture; he also attempted to break down what made each comic routine funny.
“Bill Irwin showed me that comedy has a structure; it’s not just a bunch of people goofing around on stage. There really is organization behind it,” said Hilary Moss ’08.
The event exceeded expectations, and students expressed surprise in the format.
“I expected the show to just be a clown show, but instead he interwove the effects clowning has had in history, descriptions of famous clowns, how clowning works, and why clowning has evolved in the way it has. He illustrated his analytical comments with humorous clown acts,” said Jacqie Rubinstein ’07. “He changed [costumes] on stage and really showed a behind-the-scenes presentation of his work.”
Irwin demonstrated how a subtle modification in attire, like the tilt of a hat or the loosening of a tie, can change the audience’s opinion of the person in the spotlight.
“I found it interesting how a slight change in posture, or just a costume, could change the whole perspective you had of a character,” said Rebecca Rodger ’08.
Irwin recently completed a stint as the playwright-in-residence at New York City’s venerated Signature Theatre Company. The Company’s 2003-2004 Season was dedicated entirely to Irwin’s original work as an actor, writer, and director.
“He straddles the clown world and the serious theatrical world with such ease,” said Pamela Tatge, director of the CFA. “I was so excited to open this year’s [Outside the Box Theater] Series with someone so exceptional.”
“[Irwin] is a brilliant man who apologizes for being a middle-aged clown but still looks twelve when he dances,” Tatge added.
Irwin has appeared on Broadway in many award-winning productions. Irwin’s original work, “Largely New York,” received five Tony Award nominations and won Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and New York Dance and Performance Awards. He appeared with Steve Murray, Robin Williams, and F. Murray Abraham in “Waiting for Godot” at Lincoln Center. Along with David Shiner, he performed and choreographed the hit “Fool Moon” and was a part of George Wolfe’s celebrated park production of “The Tempest.” Most recently he starred opposite Sally Field in Edward Albee’s Tony Award-winning play “The Goat or Who is Sylvia?”
Irwin has also appeared in many television shows, including “Saturday Night Live,” “The Tonight Show” and “The Cosby Show.” One of his signature roles has been Mr. Noodle on PBS’ beloved “Sesame Street.”
Irwin is not a stranger to the silver screen, either. He can be seen in “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Love Conquers All!” and perennial Wesleyan student favorite “Igby Goes Down.”
After the performance, the floor opened up to questions. The large amount of questions showed the overall consensus of the audience: whatever Bill Irwin did, he did it very well.
“The show taught me a lot about the complexities of forming characters in theater. Bill Irwin is very talented,” said Laura Brown ’08. “Also, you have to remember he was in the circus as a clown. That’s pretty awesome.”
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