The Hot Clown Company is a relatively new troupe that set out to blend sketch comedy and physical theatre with a particular emphasis on clowning. Hot Clown Sex is the outcome of that project, a show where clowns explore the ever-controversial subject of sex and sexuality.
If you enjoy your humour crass and unabashed, you’ll have a fantastic night
I think I understand why Hot Clown Sex is a hit in its native Chicago; America seems to have something of a puritanical view of sex and sexuality (especially when it comes to the idea of sexually confident women) and when The Hot Clown Company came along, they must have seemed like the first time Monty Python appeared on the BBC in 1969 or The Young Ones in 1982. However, in the UK, we grew up with tales of Mrs Slocombe’s pussy, the hilarious but badly out-of-touch antics of Benny Hill, and all the smut you could handle from Antoine de Caunes on Eurotrash so we’re a little harder to shock.
There are some fantastic moments of sexy fun, a brief routine on sexting is perfectly played and the song Squirt is Pee to the tune of The Beatles' Let it Be is both funny and educational. Tyler Garamella steals the show as Skeet the clown. He’s a fearless physical performer and his gravelly French muttering and sex-pest moustache (apologies if that’s a permanent feature) creates a well-defined character from the first moment he appears on stage. However, a lot of it feels like it’s been done before (especially at the Fringe). A sexy/awkward fruit eating bit is wonderfully timed but reminds me of an act I saw at The Bongo Club easily ten years ago (I make no claim that this is stolen, just that it’s hard to be original with sex cliches).
If you enjoy your humour crass and unabashed, you’ll have a fantastic night. I’m keen to see what’s next from Hot Clown Company; I’m certain there’s great things to come.
