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Don Toberman: Ping Pong Champ

 
Isabella Thompson Review by Isabella Thompson 4 Published: 8 Aug 2025 Pleasance Courtyard Show Dates: 30 Jul 2025-25 Aug 2025

Chase Brantley’s Don Toberman: Ping Pong Champ is a gloriously silly, testosterone-soaked spectacle of clowning bravado. Draped in swagger and sweat, Brantley embodies Don Toberman, the bad boy of ping pong, with a knowing wink.

A gloriously silly, testosterone-soaked spectacle of clowning bravado

Framed as a retro TV broadcast capturing the ping pong match of the century, Don Toberman bristles with parodic ego and double entendres, autographing audience members like a priest at communion and shamelessly flirting as he goes. At the heart of the crowd is his world-renowned “ball boy”, plucked from among the punters and tasked with providing Don his ping pong balls throughout the show. It’s the audience versus Don in an epic showdown, and everyone is raring to go at Brantley’s command, invisible paddles in hand. This instantly builds the camaraderie essential to a clown show, and Brantley does a marvellous job of keeping us firmly on his team despite Don’s relentless showboating. He becomes a lovable rogue we can’t help but want to see win.

Brantley is a master of physical comedy, with full-throttle commitment and impressive creativity. The costume changes – from smug commentator to “sexy” half-time entertainment drag (leaf blower and money-stuffed bra in tow) – are ridiculous in the best way. Fellow clowns interlude as referee, golf competitor and ping pong ball, creating dynamic contrast with Brantley’s Toberman. On this occasion Joylyn Secunda takes the stage with aplomb, a virtuoso of movement and physical theatre. The second half dials the nonsense up to 11, abandoning all pretence of sport for cowboy shootouts, awkward dinner dates and ever-heightening absurdity.

If there’s a fault in Brantley’s vibrant world, it’s that the ending doesn’t quite stick the landing. The final clown death, though creating comedic bathos, could have been stronger, and the denouement feels a touch rushed after a carefully plotted build-up.

Still, Don Toberman: Ping Pong Champ is a riot: a sweaty, seductive and very silly joyride. Brantley’s control over chaos is as impressive as his ability to make us root for such a shameless dose of machismo.

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The Blurb:

An award-winning clown showdown where Don Toberman – played by Gaulier-trained performer Chase Brantley – takes on the entire audience in a pantomime ping-pong championship for glory. It's absurd. It's athletic. It's sensitive. It's totally unhinged. Sports parody, physical comedy and heroic pathos collide in one epic match. Grab a paddle and hold on tight! Awards: Fringe AF, Denver Fringe; Critics Choice, KC Fringe; Audience Choice, Richmond Fringe. ***** (KC Fringe). 'Brilliantly conceived and executed!' (Julie Carey).