PORT TOWNSEND — More than 40 years ago, The Flying Karamazov Brothers, who aren’t really related, got together and launched a fresh kind of entertainment: part juggling, part slapstick, part music and all physical comedy.
This weekend at the Wheeler Theater at Fort Worden, Paul Magid, the co-founder of the Flying Karamazov Brothers and the only original cast member remaining, will introduce a fresh take on “Club Sandwich” to familiar faces and a new generation of theatergoers.
“Club Sandwich” will be performed tonight, Saturday and Sunday, with five shows — at 7 tonight, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday.
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Karamazov Brothers start at the beginning again in Port TownsendDec 15, 2017
General admission tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth 12 and younger. VIP tickets are $65 for Saturday night only, and include premium seats, alcoholic refreshment at intermission and a post-show reception at Taps at the Guardhouse with the performers.
Tickets are available at Port Townsend Food Coop, Port Ludlow Bay Club and online at https://tinyurl.com/PDN- KaramazovBrothers.
“This year Paul wanted to remount ‘Club Sandwich’ which was originally written in 1994 in Port Townsend,” said Danny Milholland, Port Townsend-based producer.
“It toured for three years, playing in regional theaters and performing arts centers in the states and Europe. It was highly successful.”
For this new production, Magid said he “rewrote it, revised the music, changed up the moves and added new arrangements to make it fresh and relevant in today’s world.”
In addition to Magid’s performance, the production features members of NANDA, juggling ninja acrobats: Tomoki Sage, Chen Pollina and Jules McCoy Schafer. NANDA is well known throughout the Northwest for its high-energy kung-faux fighting, slapstick comedy and fast-paced juggling routines.
Grew up in PT
“The members of NANDA grew up together in Port Townsend, where they were exposed at a young age to the Flying Karamazov Brothers,” Milholland said.
“They all knew each other and hung out at the rehearsal studio at the old Palindrome, where the troupe was based.”
Alan Cohen, who lives in London, directs the show. Cohen has been working with Magid for seven years, taking shows to London and Las Vegas, and directing the 40th anniversary celebration performance in San Jose, Calif.
‘Combine all the skills’
“In ‘Club Sandwich’ we combine all the skills that the Flying Karamazov Brothers are known for into a strong narrative based on a film noir style of cinema from the 1930s,” Cohen said.
The intention is, after Port Townsend, to take the show to a regional city such as Seattle or Portland, Ore., then tour it nationally and internationally throughout the next three years.
“This is a great opportunity for the town to come out and see a production that will be famous,” Cohen said.
“I think it’s important that the resurrection of the show is happening in Port Townsend where it began.”
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Jeannie McMacken is a freelance writer and photographer living in Port Townsend.