by ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The first of three consecutive Fringe First award-winning productions from Xhloe Rice and Natasha Rowland is both their most purely clownish hour, and also their most meta.
Xhloe and Natasha excel in intricately-choreographed stagecraft. It’s absurdist buffoonery, with balletic grace. And for their most absurd idea yet, they’re mounting all three of their previous Fringe shows during this, their fourth Fringe. Two shows each day, rotating among the trio.
Here, they’re playing rodeo clown Dale who wants to be a cowboy, Dale’s “shadow,” Dilly-Dally, who just wants to be a rodeo clown, the star cowboy who puts Dale in his place, and a bull named Arnold who puts everything in perspective. So why would the rodeo burn down anyhow? Who would do such a thing? And what would that look like in a stage in the round, even if they had the budget for it? If you’re looking for answers, then you’ll only find more questions. The only real question is how do these two pull off this magic act night after night, or even just once? Xhloe and Natasha clearly are in a league of their own.
Xhloe and Natasha: And Then The Rodeo Burned Down plays at theSpace through Aug. 22, 2025.
