Garry Starr, the comedic creation of clown and actor Damien Warren-Smith, is captivating audiences with his unique show, Classic Penguins. This entertaining performance, which runs from September 3 to October 12 at Grand Electric in Surry Hills, has already garnered acclaim by winning the top prize at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Starr believes that penguins are the true authors of classic literature, leading him to don an Elizabethan ruffle, top hat, jacket, and flippers—while notably omitting pants. In Classic Penguins, he humorously interprets timeless titles like Frankenstein, The Wind in the Willows, and Gulliver’s Travels, inviting the audience to guess which classic he is portraying.
The show is characterized by its silly puns, physical comedy, and interactive elements. Starr engages willing audience members in various antics, including a memorable moment where one participant is chosen to throw grapes at him in homage to a John Steinbeck classic. Warren-Smith emphasizes that the volunteers are not the subjects of ridicule; rather, he takes on that role, stating, “The volunteers are not the butt of the joke; it’s always me who ends up looking ridiculous.”
A key aspect of Starr’s performance is audience participation. Warren-Smith finds that the most enjoyable participants are those who initially hesitate. He notes, “If they’re too confident, the audience questions if they’re a plant. But when someone is a little bit uncomfortable to get up there, I honestly believe that everyone comes out succeeding.” He reassures volunteers that despite the nudity, the atmosphere remains light-hearted and safe.
As for the nudity itself, Warren-Smith explains that both he and the audience often overlook it during the show. “If you see something a lot, you just get used to it,” he says, acknowledging that the humor can sometimes be jarring. “But then you remember it at the right moment. Like if someone’s up on stage about to give me a hug, then you’re like, ‘Oh, of course, he’s naked.’”
The resurgence of clowning as a popular form of entertainment is evident, with artists like Zach Zucker, Julia Masli, and Viggo Venn—all graduates of the prestigious École Philippe Gaulier—gaining recognition on the comedy circuit. Warren-Smith believes that clowning offers a necessary escape in today’s fast-paced world. He argues, “Clown seems to be the furthest you can get from Netflix because it’s immediate and interactive. It’s whatever happens in the room that night, and no one else will ever experience that.”
Warren-Smith is also developing a television project featuring Garry Starr. He acknowledges the challenge of capturing the energy of live performance on screen: “I love the collective experience and that feeling of ‘it could be me’ [being part of the show]. Having someone completely lose their mind over a puerile gag is often enough to spread throughout the theatre and make it become something more. You just don’t get that if it’s not live.”
With its blend of absurdity and audience engagement, Classic Penguins promises to be a refreshing addition to the comedy scene. Tickets are available for those looking to experience this unique theatrical endeavor.
