"An Evening With Olaf"

A very pleasant hour-long fundraiser for Davis' Cesar Chavez Elementary School at DMTC on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Olaf the Clown is played by Paul, the father of one of the children at the school.

Because of their general immaturity and social incompetence, children often find themselves in awkward situations. They are always falling down and bumping into things. Adults yell at them all the time for their failure to notice obvious dangers and pitfalls. They can't even tie their shoes properly. It is frustrating to be a child.

Children find particular delight in finding adults who are even more awkward than they are. Olaf the Clown is one such adult.

Olaf performed several skits: e.g., several dances, a magic act, eating popcorn, a tango with a mop, conducting an orchestra. Turning society's tables, the children often shouted gratuitous advice about Olaf's failings to him, often to hilarious effect, as Olaf reacted in silly ways.

This turf has been worked before, of course: Red Skelton comes to mind. But it's inexhaustible, timeless turf. The roots of vaudeville are here.

I thought the skits were excellent, but that the kids didn't quite follow the tango with the mop. First you have to explain tango, and why you would want to dance a tango anyway, etc. But the kids kept their focus nonetheless, and rejoined the flow with conducting the orchestra. (Which you would think would also have to be explained, but apparently not. I mean, no one has yet explained to me why an orchestra needs conducting anyway. Yes, it's true, I still can't tie my shoes properly.)

This same, gentle comedic approach works with adults too. Nothing frightened adults over the last decade more than Al Qaeda. Jeff Denham's "Achmed the Dead Terrorist" act poked the gentlest fun at all that. I mean, what could possibly be less frightening than a dead terrorist?

Really, "An Evening With Olaf" is a superior show!