The Canadian "clowns of horror," Mump & Smoot, return to Yale Repertory Theatre in Something Else with Zug April 15-17. Karen Hines directs this new adventure penned by the writing-performing team of Michael Kennard and John Turner.
In Something Else, Mump & Smoot, seeking to summon their god Ummo with prayers in a hybrid of Ummonian and English, actually release the Genie Zug (Rik Kunst). Zug grants the two three wishes, setting the stage for two hours of fantasy that includes a spoof of a cooking show that features audience members as main courses.
Creators Kennard and Turner met in 1987 at a Second City workshop and took clowning training from Richard Pochinko. Mump and Smoot made their debut May 13, 1988 in Jump the Gun. Since then, they have appeared at Yale Rep in Ferno (1993) and in Caged (1994). They have won Boston Theatre Awards for Outstanding Production by a Visiting Company and a Best Actors DramaLogue.
Designing the set and lighting are Campbell Manning and Michel Charbonneau respectively.
Tickets ($25-$15) are available by calling the Yale Repertory box office at (203) 432-1234. -- By Christine Ehren