Toronto Fringe Review: James & Jamesy Easy as Pie

Clowns are creepy; that is of course, unless they are James and Jamesy. 

In their latest effort Easy As Pie, it might not be so simple for James (Aaron Malkin) when he can’t tick taking a pie in the face off his to do list. These Jung at heart clowns travel deep into James’ psyche, unlocking his doors of perception, until he and Jamesy (Alastair Knowles) get to the root of the block and overcome it together. 

What begins as a delightful gag about a clown running from a pie quickly becomes a deep psychological exploration of memory, trauma, healing, and the power of friendship. Jamesy, in an effort to support his great friend James, inadvertently gifted him a traumatic memory. Even our dearest friends, with the best of intentions, sometimes get it wrong. Other times we just forget the context or can’t see outside of our own immediate experience. It’s a story as old as friendships and memory, told through inventive storytelling and nimble clowning.

The lighting and costume design create clearly delineated worlds, a delightful outer one and glowing inner with a vaguely sinister tone (but that just might be my own issues with clowns) filled with confetti and memories — memories that extend into the audience. Jamesy shatters the fourth wall by climbing into the audience. If this is your cup of tea, sit centre in the first four-ish rows, you might wind up with a clown in your lap. If you prefer a distance from the action, find seats further back or off to the sides. 

Easy As Pie is a hilarious and heartfelt bit of buffoonery for the young and young at heart. 

James & Jamesy: Easy as Pie is on now until July 12 as part of Toronto Fringe. Show times and tickets here.