Shay Mace
A trumpet announces the arrival of Prince Wilfred, the boy who perhaps should never be king, played in fantastical form by clown Lil Wenker. The schemings of this 8 year old may well be his unravelling, and we, the humble court, are invited to witness his not so graceful descent into madness. With twelve brothers standing between him and the throne, there’s plenty to be done, and across an hour Wilfred dazzles and bewilders in equal measure in this interactive, unhinged zany treat.
In her previous clowning hour, Bangtail, Wenker conducted the audience remarkably to the will of her cowboy alter ego. Elements of this highly interactive and quirky style carry through into BOYKING, including an opening segment in which the belongings of the audience are deemed to be ‘presents’ for young Wilfred, not limited to the clothing on their backs. This creates an immediate apprehension that Wenker thankfully quells through reassurance that we are in the hands of an extremely competent clown. As she flits between playing Wilfred and his faithful, if unwitting, Jester to create a bizarre dark fantasy in tandem with the audience interaction.
It’s clear to see elevation in how much more rounded this hour is comparative to Bangtail, featuring musical numbers and tap dancing among the usual scoresheet of bonkers antics. This holistic and varied approach sometimes leaves some odd gaps in the pacing between moments, though Wenker’s commitment to the bit and overwhelming characterisation tends to keep the room on side throughout. As Wilfred meanders around, quite literally frothing at the mouth, flailing under the weight of a massive crown, and subordinating audience members into handing him power.
It is power, and who has it, in the room that comes to define BOYKING, perhaps quite naturally so given the content of the show. A moment where Wilfred demands that one of us take to the stage for a spanking does not prove fruitful, yet Wenker is not undeterred, and carries through to the end with feverish charm and unrelenting brass. Prescient jokes capturing recent royal developments do not go unnoticed, and Wenker manages to blend a very light satire with expert performing skills to really capture the audience.
One thing is for sure BOYKING is an unforgettable and undeniably ‘Fringe’ experience, Gutsy, laugh-out-loud, frivolous clowning of the tallest order.
Recommended Drink: Pair this with a Kir Royale – half Ribena, half Champagne.
You can catch Lil Wenker: BOYKING at Bunker One at Pleasance Courtyard until August 30th (not the 17th) from 21:45 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Salvador Kent
Isobel Jacob
