Ms. Sugarcoat and her beaver Pat will be gracing PTE’s Colin Jackson Studio as part of the Fringe Festival until July 26th.
Written, directed, and performed by Calgarian Alice Nelson this send-up of the politically correct “we’re all special” education system has taken current stereotypes, added a dash of knee-jerk populism, thrown them into a blender to render this chunky, clunky, mean spirited comedy.
Nelson’s background in physical theatre is evident as she is an animated yet controlled performer. Unfortunately, she chose to derive laughs by highlighting the oversized, bulbous posterior of Ms. Sugarcoat.
Voluminous buttocks as an erogenous zone made popular by Kim Kardashian have lost much of their comedic appeal and as a result many of the jokes fell flat.
WARNING – this play demands participation, as audience members become students and teacher evaluators. It is the audience and the improvisational aspects of this play that resulted in the best laughs.
Winnipeg’s large improv audience are encouraged to come and participate in this play to challenge Ms. Sugarcoat; a situation that could potentially be an enjoyable party for both.
Normally I don’t respond to negative reviews. I know that’s just part of the business I’m in. Back in ’99 when my first solo show got slammed, and I was mulling over the review, a dear friend said, “ya know what you do with a negative review? Throw it away” (thank you Neil Grahn). But today, you can’t just throw it away. Anyone who Googles Ms.Sugarcoat will get this review and decide not to see the show… And that kinda breaks my heart. But I know, that’s just part of the business I’m in.
But I feel in my gut that I have to respond to this review…. As it missed some key points, but also brought my attention to mistakes that I have made in marketing the show (so thank you Tanis Kyle).
The show is a clown show, specifically in the style of Bouffon. The essence of Bouffon is mocking. Bouffons are satirists who amplify, distort, and exaggerate in order to provoke laughter or outrage (so perhaps…mission accomplished? But I’m not sure the joke was understood) To clarify, contemporary Bouffons are Borat, Ali G (basically anything Sacha Baron Cohen does), the kids of South Park, Red Bastard, and even John Oliver and John Stewart. We laugh at the unsetting aspects of contemporary culture, which are based in truth. Therefore I can absolutely see how one might interrupt it as “mean-spirited”. But I encourage you to also see that there is truth behind the satire.
I’m a clown. I’ve been with Clowns Without Borders for 8 years, and nothing brings me more joy than making others laugh. However, when I tell people I’m a clown my most common reaction (in North America) is “I hate clowns” or “I’m afraid of clowns”. Therefore I decided not to label Ms.Sugarcoat as a clown show. I’m now rethinking that choice, as judging from this review, it is possible to walk into the show with a different expectation and take it too seriously. And yes, I want the problems in the school system to be taken seriously…I will get back to that. But an audience doesn’t want me to give them a lecture, the fringe is about FRINGE (new work, risky work, work on the edge) and I’m not an inspirational speaker…I’m a clown. So the way I can bring awareness is through humor, through satire. I also did that with the last show I brought to Winnipeg Fringe, RAUNCH: The Rise of Female Chauvinist Pigs (co-created with Jacqueline Russell).
Back to problems in the school system…. I work as an artist in residency in the elementary school system. Therefore all those “stereotypes” and “populisms” are based in truth. I asked teachers for names of students and I got “Wellspring”, “Amayzing”, “Darwin”…. Truth is often the best material for Bouffon/Satire. I can’t write stuff this good. I talked to teachers about staff meeting, IPPS (Individual Programming Plans for students), entitled children who receive no discipline at home- so it’s up to the teachers to raise children, overcrowded classroom, extra hours they put in, lack of assistants for special needs students… it’s no wonder so many teachers go on strike. They are at a breaking point. Burn out for a teacher is 5 years!!! Which is exactly why I wrote the show. To bring some awareness.
And Ms.Sugarcoat is also a part of the problem. She is the depiction of someone who followed unrealistic dreams set up through Pop Culture. You ask a kid what they want to be when they grow up, most of them will say “famous”. And so Ms.Sugarcoat never finds out what she is good at… she just keep chasing unrealistic dreams, rather than find out how she can serve her community with her gifts. She goes into teaching for the wrong reasons: financial security, 2 months off in the summer, dental plan… IF you go into teaching you have to want to help children. You have to be willing to take on more than you can handle with patience and generosity. It’s one of the hardest jobs in the world.
The best is when a teacher sees this show, because they laugh through all the recognition. It’s a catharsis for them. And it’s all the stuff they aren’t allowed to say…but wish they could. They are often by administration (that aren’t in the classrooms), political correctness and parental demands.
All the jokes in the show came from truth, from news articles…even the announcement about a little boy being charged with sexual harassment for kissing a girl on the playground. Heck, Rick Mercer did a great sketch about Tobogganing being banned.
AND lets not forget Ms.Sugarcoat’s enormous butt. I kind of find it hilarious that this is such a beef with critiques. Ms.Sugarcoat has a big butt. She also has enormous teeth. And a giant flower with a bee on her jacket. This is because she is a clown. She is an exaggeration. And one of my favorite parts is dancing around, proudly, with that giant butt. She never mentions it; she owns it.
AND the only fat joke…isn’t even a joke.
Exact Dialogue:
Pat: Ok, what happened with your last boyfriend.
Ms.Sugarcoat: He broke up with me.
Pat: Why?
Ms.Sugarcoat: He said I was fat.
Pat: That jerk!
That’s it…. That’s the only non-fat “fat joke”
Therefore even the “title” of the review is false. And has very likely deterred so many people from coming to the show.
I would never make fat jokes. Heck I’m overweight. But like Ms.Sugarcoat, I dance proudly with my big butt! And sadly, I’m kicking myself for Ms.Sugarcoat’s big butt…. I think I lost the half star (Winnipeg Free Press) because of her big, beautiful butt.
I don’t think audiences realize that if you get 3 ½ stars, your show is gonna struggle. 4 stars is Charlie Bucket’s Golden Ticket. It’s the difference between putting up stars on your poster and not. And the difference between presales in the next city or not…Politics, eh? Sheesh.
And finally… Great if improv audiences want to come. I am a company member with Loose Moose Theatre. Dennis Cahill, the Artistic Director of Loose Moose, directed this show. If you want to come and “challenge” Ms.Sugarcoat… I think you might be coming for the wrong reasons. But whatever floats your boat. I’d rather you come and laugh, take in the message, feel empathy for teachers who are overworked, and be a part of Ms.Sugarcoat’s class.
Oh and Tanis, I did cut the fart jokes. Those were falling flat. Winnipeg does not dig the fart jokes…. Those really have nothing to do with a message or anything. That’s just the 10 year old in me who loves a good fart joke. What do ya expect?! I’m a clown.
But thank you Tanis, for making me realize that in this world of technology, I don’t have to throw out the review…. I also have the option to clarify my intentions and encourage audience to risk seeing Ms.Sugarcoat, despite a harsh review.