Unforgettable Smythe & Saucier "Circo Comedia" to come to Quick Center | Press Releases

Professional pranksters Smythe & Saucier bring the acrobatics, magic and eccentricity that is their "Circo Comedia" to Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 1 and 3 p.m. The performances are part of the center's Young Audience program.

Hailing from Montreal, Lawrence Smythe and Jean Saucier based their "Circo Comedia" in the tradition of the Quebec Circus. Mr. Saucier, a master equilibrist, and Mr. Smythe, a catastrophic clown eccentric, offer acrobatic tricks, daring feats and their own brand of offbeat humor in this all-ages show that has been spreading merriment at festivals and cabarets around the world.

Mr. Smythe credits his lively personality to a combination of things. He believes his irreverent sense of humor comes from his Irish heritage, while his love of performing stems from watching Red Skelton on television. Add to the mix that he grew up in what he describes as "an intense and comedic family where chaos reigned."

Mr. Smythe's talents are many and his professional training includes mime, dance, clowning, mask, improvisation, voice and music.

Like his partner, Mr. Saucier has grown used to having an audience. At age 11, he cut a curious figure in his native Montreal when he delivered newspapers atop his unicycle. Mostly self-taught until the age of 18, he later attended the Ecole National du Cirque de Montréal. He worked with Cirque du Soleil, realizing over the years that his destiny was that of straight man to Mr. Smythe's madcap hijinks. Mr. Saucier is professionally trained as a stuntman, equilibrist, juggler, unicyclist, acrobat, trick cyclist, clown and actor.

Smythe & Saucier have been performing "Circo Comedia" for two years. In that time they've been part of major children's festivals in Calgary, Saskatoon, Vancouver and Winnipeg, as well as several comedy festivals, including the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. They've taken the show to Las Vegas, Japan, France and Hungary.

Since their first U.S. performances in 1999, the duo has been featured at the Philadelphia Festival Theater for Children, the Pittsburgh International Children's Festival and the Alaska Junior Theater.

Critics have taken note of the eccentric pair and "Circo Comedia." The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review called the show a "circus act small on performers, large on laughs." The Standard FreeHolder of Ontario said their "non-stop side-splitting comedy and daredevil stunts" wowed a sell-out crowd there.

Tickets to Smythe & Saucier "Circo Comedia" are $12 for adults, $10 for children. For tickets, call the Quick Center box office at (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396. For more information, visit the website, www.quickcenter.com.