by ⭐⭐⭐½
This could and should be a 4-star review and perhaps is on a lot of days, but my audience simply wasn’t up to the task Jeromaia Detto assigned us. That’s not his fault.
But it is a particular risk in fashioning a clown show where so much responsibility is handed over to a group of strangers, some or many of whom may have no idea what they signed up for when they walked into the room. I first “saw” Detto as one of the purple full-body clowns flopping about a Stamptown show, and was pleased to finally get to see him on his own merits. And what he has crafted is a delightful hour in concept, presenting himself quite literally as a clown of many hats. With a full wardrobe of tops hanging behind him, Detto puts himself at the mercy of his audience and his tech; the former gets to decide from an infinite number of “grown-up” jobs or dreams for Detto to act out; the latter gets to add sound-effect flourishes that may enhance or complicate Detto’s performance.
So it really helps if you’re playful without being obnoxious. Because that’s the vibe he’s bringing to the tent. It’s a fully improvised hour, but you’re providing the suggestions. Don’t dream so shallow. Dream bigger. Detto deserves as much.
Jeromaia Detto “When I Grow Up” plays Underbelly’s The Wee Coo through Aug. 23, 2025.
