Rite of Passage
In 'Storked,' George Clark turns common life
experience into congenial amusement.
George
Clark has a warm presence on stage in his solo show giving a new
father’s point of view about pregnancy, seen at the People’s Improv
Theater on April 14.
Clark may be relating a universal experience, nothing so exceptional
that many people know or go through, but his easy demeanor and flashes
of personality in his storytelling prove lightly amusing.
The best moments in Clark’s show trade on his own personality as an
everyman or typical guy going through the experience, as when he
protectively questions the obstetrician and is told by both the doctor
and his own wife, “We’ll tell you what you need to know.” … Even better,
Clark recalls the cold reception he got for cracking wise after
accidentally knocking over some medical supplies, saying, “Cleanup in
aisle 6!”
With moments describing further thoughtfulness gone awry, Clark takes
his genial self-mockery even further, recalling how he failed miserably
at being sensitive by buying his pregnant wife the most roomy business
suit possible, setting her to crying when he comes home with an XXL
size.
The latter part of Clark’s show, which runs about 40 minutes, aims for
profundity and relating lessons learned to the audience, while keeping
the congeniality, and in the same mellow style as most of the piece,
accomplishes that.
Clark performs “Storked” again at The PIT 8 p.m. April 21. |