War & Play: A Clown Odyssey of Survival at Cannonball Festival

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2. War & Play: A Clown Odyssey of Survival

Multi-disciplinary physical theater artist Danielle Levsky brings critically acclaimed clown show "War and Play" to the Cannonball Festival as part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. The show will run for two performances at MAAS Studio (1320 N 5th St, Philadelphia) on Tuesday, September 24 at 8:00 PM and Wednesday, September 25 at 5:00 PM. This powerful piece explores the enduring human spirit amid Ukraine's ongoing conflict through clowning, acrobatics, and object manipulation. Opening night for press is Tuesday, September 24 at 8:00 PM.

Danielle Levsky, playwright and performer, says: "As a child of Soviet Jewish refugees, I'm thrilled to bring 'War and Play' to my home. This show uses the vulnerability and joy of clowning to grapple with the realities of war and displacement. It's a deeply personal story that I believe has universal resonance, especially in our current global climate."

"War and Play" follows the journey of a queer clown couple, Vira and Nadiya, whose peaceful world is shattered after Russia launches its full-scale attack on their homeland. A third clown joins them, transforming to embody the many faces impacted by war: a street performer, a soldier, an aid worker, and a new friend named Lubo. Together, they bring the audience on an emotional journey that ranges from fanciful optimism to sudden, wrenching grief.

The show features performances by Danielle Levsky, Mariko Iwasa, and Ania Upstill, under the direction of SMJ. Originally commissioned by the National Queer Theater and premiered at Lincoln Center in June 2023, "War and Play" has since been performed at PhysFestNYC 2024.

The show has received critical acclaim for its poignant exploration of joy as resistance in times of conflict. Jonathan Mandell of New York Theater praised the most recent presentation as the opening show of PhysFestNYC 2024, noting, "The three colorfully-garbed performers in the show, none of whom spoke, were skilled at, well, clowning around: tap-dancing, playing the accordion, putting on red noses... In the most memorable scene in the hour-long play, Vira and Nadiya had lured members of the audience to join them in a spontaneous promenade, a kind of conga line — only to be confronted by Iwasa as a stern Russian soldier – which made the situation feel more menacing."

Sara Holdren of Vulture highlighted the emotional impact of the piece, writing, "Watching the clowns search for missing friends, scurry from one temporary safe place to the next, and try to maintain some small sense of joy amidst the destruction, I feel ill over how little I've even heard about Ukraine lately, even though it's still on fire..." She particularly praised performer Mariko Iwasa, describing her as "a delightful presence — light and specific, eager without being cutesy, her body both meticulously controlled and very free, her face serious but open."

Tickets to "War and Play" are currently on sale here: https://phillyfringe.org/events/war-and-play-a-clown-odyssey-of-survival/. General admission is $25. More information on War and Play Danielle Levsky can be found at criticturnedclown.squarespace.com, and via Instagram @criticturnedclown.