Piip and Tuut choose to play characters who are practically invisible, and hardly capable of putting on a concert. Nevertheless, while they wait to clean up after the show – one wonders how much mess they and/or the audience intend to make – they find themselves gradually enjoying dipping their toes into the limelight.

After overcoming their initial shyness, the competition for attention is soon relentless, both vying to seek favor with the audience. The merest minutiae is enough for them to be totally engaged, as only clowns, or someone with the same single minded focus, can. When they decide to present a concert of their own, the fun begins in earnest.

These constant see-sawing attempts to out-do each other are enhanced with some clever tricks and a series of acrobatic maneuvers, performed of course in character. The female/male combo allows for extra silly business, all family friendly. The classical pairing of White Face Clown (‘straight man’) with the Auguste Clown (fool/funny person) forms the basis of their relationship. But this convention too is soon subverted, like everything else within reach.

Audience participation is actually minimal, and much gentler than might be expected. These two sublime fools are far too busy trying to outdo each other to require any assistance from amateurs! That said, this delightful duo is able to respond to any opportunity for impromptu fun with the slightest opening from us or even from outside. All this is nicely naughty stuff, free-falling and completely satisfying.

It reminds us that life is really just a silly series of games we perhaps take too seriously. And that what really matters is how you play, not whether you win or not.

Sweet, pure and simple, ‘Piip and Tuut at Concert’ is traditional clowning at its best.  It delivers lashings of laughter, and a healthy dose of the nonsense needed to dispel away the gathering gloom.