Here come the clowns

Die Aussenseiter (The Outsiders) brings its act to Israel this week. Despite its name, this clown troupe is far from unpopular.

By DIANA GERSHMAN
Die Aussenseiter (The Outsiders) brings its act to Israel this week. Despite its name, this clown troupe is far from unpopular. The duo, which boasts a slew of awards from European clown competitions, specializes in theater clown workshops known to softly seduce the audience - opposed to the Vegas circus acts that keep you on the edge of your seat. "You can explain more in the theater," says Stanislov Bogdanov, director of Die Aussenseiter. "The circus is very pushy, very powerful. Theater is more sensitive." Bogdanov has worked in clown acts for twenty years, spending half that time in the Die Aussenseiter troupe. He began his career at the First Israel Circus in Eilat, and then graduated to larger audiences in Europe. In his new continent, Bogdanov tiptoed up the ladder through street performances and festivals. Midway through pursuing his dream abroad, Bogdanov teamed up with other artists in a 'studio for clowns' and formed the Die Aussenseiter clown troupe. Most of the upcoming performances are entirely improvised by the actors. The troupe's incarnation that is set to perform here is composed of the original duo, Bogdanov and Elena Bolsuna, as well as Muscovite actor, Michael Chorvin. Bogdanov is still unsure if the troupe will include two more clowns. Bogdanov, who emigrated from Belarus to Israel when just an infant, cited his deep connection to the nation where he was raised as his main reason for coming. "Israel is my home," he says. "This is where my friends are." Regarding Israel's need for comic relief, Bogdanov says, "People always need to watch something funny." Die Aussenseiter performs on January 21 at Hasimta Theater at 8:30 p.m. Entrance is NIS 60, (03) 681-2126.