Toronto Fringe Review: Inside Ethel: Outside

Christine Moynihan. Photo by Lyon Smith

This may be an unpopular opinion but I love clowns. Granted, I have not seen that many clown shows, but Inside Ethel: Outside (NACS Productions) makes me want to see more. It makes me wish that my theatre program had a longer clown unit.

Ethel (Christine Moynihan) is an older clown, and she is looking for her son, but she hasn’t been outside in many years. Fortunately, she has help from her guide/Amazon delivery person (Katherine Duncanson).

Duncanson opens the show with a beautiful, symbolic dance and a poetic land acknowledgement. She is a hovering, ethereal presence in the background, ready to silently urge Ethel on when she becomes discouraged in her journey.

Moynihan’s sense of timing is excellent. The slow peek of her hand coming out from behind her front door is priceless. Once Ethel is out, her guide sneakily locks the door so she can’t go back in. Therefore, Ethel must continue onward, timid but determined. 

There are many fun bits of object comedy, including an unwieldy map, and various pandemic-related items such as masks, hand sanitizer, and gloves. Ethel, having not left her house in years, seems to be entirely unaware of the pandemic and what these items are used for. She makes fake chest enhancements out of the masks and uses a glove for a Michael Jackson tribute.

One of my favourite things about this show is the use of the backstage area. Ethel’s map sends her off backstage, where she can be heard humming, and tripping, and running into an angry-sounding cat. I really love that use of space.

Inside Ethel: Outside is both funny and sweet. Ethel is a delightful and captivating clown. Even if you don’t like clowns, you will like Ethel. And I promise there’s no scary clown makeup. 

Inside Ethel: Outside is on now until July 17 as part of the 2022 Toronto Fringe Festival.
Find show times and tickets here.