The digital magazine of New York indie theater
Loading

The Three of Clubs

nytheatre.com review by Sarah Congress
August 15, 2005

Juggling basketballs, knives, and super balls are all a major part of The Three of Clubs. This production is done entirely by teenage boys (around my age; I'm 14) and the trio all seem to have a great passion for juggling and the stage. They amused me with their juggling, magic tricks, and unicycle riding, but more importantly they seemed to really amuse the younger children in the crowd. Joe Willens and Dan McMahon created The Three of Clubs after performing together in a sixth grade circus. Julien Rossant joined afterward, and they have since performed in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Red Hook Performing Arts Festival, and in numerous Manhattan and Brooklyn performance spaces. Julien Rossant has incredible skill as a juggler, and performs with such ease that it is a joy to watch him. Dan McMahon has excellent comic timing and a lot of poise. McMahon has a very flexible body, which allows him to walk on stilts, roll in a barrel, and a number of other amazing actions. I’d be very interested to see the three actors in the future, for I think that they have a lot of potential. Throughout the performance there is a great deal of audience interaction. They ask kids to catch balls, attempt to juggle, lend a hand in magic tricks, and even pick out costumes. This proves to be an excellent idea, as it really draws the kids into the performance, and makes it a fun and interactive experience for them. During the show, I scanned the audience and didn’t see a single child who wasn’t laughing or having a good time. The director, Gila Sand, seems to have let the actors have no boundaries as they walked in the audience, through the aisles, and jumped off enormous heights. The one thing I did find slightly annoying was the fact that the stage manager, MiaSarah Lai, seemed to have a part in this production that was not just behind the curtain. She came on stage hurrying the actors along, and telling them that “you’re all late for your show” or “hurry up.” By doing this, I felt that some of the stage magic was lost.The Three of Clubs is full of juggling, magic tricks, stunts, and fun. The trio of actors show a lot of skill, as well as passion for the stage. This piece is perfect for children under eight, and even the adults might sneak in a giggle.