Born to circus folk who prefer trapezing over parenting, Felix quickly learns to turn life's misfortune into jokes. His longing for family and home is piqued at the tender age of seven, when he falls hopelessly in love with an older woman, the beguiling Aja, who is eight. In the process, a clown in born, and we watch him grow into a middle-aged buffoon. Over time, Felix stops waiting for someone else to love him, his journey becomes one of loving himself. A story of love, loss, and the fate that binds us, Buffoon is a gut-wrenching solo play that expertly walks the tightrope between heartbreak and hilarity.
WINNER, DORA MAVOR MOORE AWARD, OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY, 2020
WINNER, DORA MAVOR MOORE AWARD, OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE, 2020
“Buffoon matches a multi-layered script with a magnificent solo performance…[An] epic tale of love and betrayal, triumph and loss, connection and abandonment—the human story.” -Globe and Mail
“Irani gives us a dark tale for our dark times, with some laughs along the way, and a gleam of hope that the broken can be mended, and the unforgivable forgiven.” -Vancouver Sun
"Buffoon is a marvel of solo storytelling. A circus-noir monodrama that traces a clown's tragicomic life of abandonment and perdition, this latest play from Vancouver novelist/dramatist Anosh Irani possesses intrigue and poetic imagery…a paragon of tonal control and captivating solo storytelling…" - Now
"Buffoon is full of powerful moments and rich metaphor." - Broadway World
"Masterful…. The storytelling is both funny and heartbreaking. Anosh Irani has written such a quietly dense, complex story of yearning, love-denied and love given, a story of a soul looking for acceptance. The character of Felix slowly, carefully reveals himself through his funny observations….It's a beautifully written story of an isolated soul and his need to belong and be loved and what happens when both are denied, and that even then, when he least expects it, there is hope. Anosh Irani is a wonderful playwright as seen in his plays Bombay Black and The Men in White. Add Buffoon to this list." - The Slotkin Letter
"…Anosh Irani's one-man play Buffoon is some truly wonderful theatrical clowning…. [Through] Irani's heart-wrenching storytelling… the story seeks out and often finds the comedy in the tragedy of Felix's life... These bursts of humour exemplify how the clown can find foolishness in even the saddest of experiences…. As for the last act, it is full of unexpected and dark surprises that tie up the loose ends of Felix's story even while he continues to unravel before our eyes. So folks, step right up and buy a ticket for Buffoon while the circus is still in town…. Anosh Irani's story will leave you with a feeling of emotional whiplash in the best way possible." - My Entertainment World
"Buffoon…traces the evolution of a clown - thematically and conceptually - and his discovery of his art. How he learns to turn pain into comedy…. The script by Anosh Irani then synthesizes slapstick with tragedy in a final moment that…lands with a shattering effect. Rarely have I seen an audience laugh so loudly as a play began, grow mesmerized and fearful with frequent punctuations of hearty then nervous laughter, and finally: leave in total stunned silence." - Drew Rowsome, My Gay Toronto
"Buffoon is a profound, beautiful tragedy… captivating, emotionally taxing, and downright great…. Stunningly dark…Buffoon left an uncomfortable pit in my stomach that has yet to disappear." - Mooney on Theatre
"Vancouver-based Irani is an esteemed novelist-playwright, and, perhaps, because he has a foot in both literary camps, he is able to fashion such deep characterizations for both page and stage. Irani has poured all his considerable skill into crafting a compelling portrait of Felix the clown in words…the marvel of Irani's script is just how much humour, cynical though it may be, he has put into Felix’s storytelling. Throughout the show, Felix makes us laugh, and he makes us cry….the unforgettable character of Felix the clown….Is Buffoon a must see? You bet it is." - Paula Citron