Shakespeare Meets Sock Puppets (But Don’t Call Them That)

Hamlet gets a serious shakeup —by way of slapstick, sock puppets (though they object to that term), and the comedic chaos of solo performance. Enter Clown Daddy Presents: Hamlet (All by Myself), the latest creation by physical theater artist and clown performer Ellie J, also known onstage as Clown Daddy.

Performances take place June 6th and 7th at The Parlor in Narrowsburg, NY, and promise a rollercoaster ride through Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy—with a twist.

“It’s not really a one-person show,” Clown Daddy clarifies. “I have help from some very special actors: Gratch and Conrad.” These self-described “big boys” are not your average puppets. In fact, they’d prefer you don’t call them puppets at all.

“I play Ophelia and Horatio,” says Gratch in a gravelly voice. Conrad, somewhat more serious, adds: “I play King Claudius and Polonius. Also, I’m an alcoholic. Wait, no—that’s a different Conrad.”

The show, originally conceived out of necessity—“the rest of the cast didn’t show up”—is a fast-paced, high-spirited adaptation of the famously long and brooding Hamlet, trimmed to a tight 75 minutes.

Through expressive clowning, physical comedy, and minimalist props like balloons and brooms, Clown Daddy plays nearly all the characters herself—with interjections and assists from her longtime companions.

There’s no red nose, no circus makeup. “People in America get weird about the clown nose,” says Jetty. “It might pop up occasionally in other shows, but not here. This is Shakespeare.”

She draws more from the European tradition of physical theater and clowning, having trained at Jacques Lecoq in Paris and Atlantic Theater Company in New York.

The show is equal parts silly and sincere, absurd and analytical “I love blending my acting chops with my clown training,” Clown Daddy explains. “This show is for me first—but I think it’s for everyone. We’ve said it’s 13+ because I drop a few swears, but it’s really accessible. If ticket prices are a concern, just come. We’ll make it work.”

Asked what they hope audiences take away, Gratch keeps it simple: “I just want people to have a good time.” Conrad, meanwhile, leans into the existential: “I want them to think… about where their madness lies.”

Image: Clown Daddy with fellow performers Conrad (left) and Gratch (right). (Credit: Patricio Robayo)