By Paul Cosca www.steadstylechicago.com

I was never a fan of prom.  Perhaps it was all just too much about popularity and pressure for me.  But whatever my insecurities about school dances may have been, they don't hold a candle to the kind of mayhem that ensues in Les Enfants Terribles "Prom Night".  Luckily, it's the kind of mayhem you can really appreciate.

Les Enfants Terribles is a clown group in the bouffant style, which emphasizes a more grotesque, disturbing nature (both in physical form and in behavior) than in what could be called more "traditional" clowning.  Frankly, it's a little difficult to describe them, which is why they have taken the brilliant marketing tactic of just showing up at all sorts of events this summer, sheepishly shuffling their way through crowds at the Pride Parade, The Palmer House, and other busy Chicago locales.  If you've been out and about this summer, you very well may have stumbled across their strange performances.

Then there's "Prom Night".  Walking into Red Tape's space, it's immediately recognizable as a loving homage to high school's most honored tradition.  Streamers hang from the ceiling, punch is served, and the room seems to be anchored by the garish, enormous crescent moon that serves as a perfect picture spot for happy couples (and fun loving audience members).  Ryan Lempka and Amanda Miller are perfectly peppy as the prom coordinators, and it's easy to get swept up in it all to the point of jumping on the dance floor and doing the Macarena.  It's fun and care free and most likely a lot more fun than a real prom these days would be.  It's all the perfect setup for Les Enfants Terribles to bust in and take over the place.

Once they establish themselves in the room, they begin their exploration.  Despite their monstrous looks, the word "enfants" is by far the most important part of their name, as their childlike behavior quickly takes over.  It is a joy to see them explore their surroundings like petulant, fun loving toddlers (sometimes teenagers).  I was extremely happy to see that the topics explored in this piece were closely intertwined with all the connotations that "prom night" entails.  They struggle to be popular, fight against peer pressure, and cautiously tip toe their way through drinking and sex, all while maintaining their unique style.

While they are very much an ensemble, and work very well together in that way, there are a couple of standout performers.  Casey Kells displays a very nuanced femininity as The Mother, using all of his/her feminine wiles to get exactly what he/she wants.  It would be easy to slap on makeup and put on a drag act, but Kells' dedication to the character shines.  Scott Merchant also gives a wonderful performance as The Interpreter.  Merchant's bouffant is graced with extremities so pronounced that his vulnerabilities with sex and appearance are absolutely impossible to hide.  Merchant is easy to empathize with, as his character is pressured throughout the evening into doing things he's just not ready for, and his passionate performance makes the arc of the play really come to life.

"Prom Night" starts off as a fun, engrossing romp through the trials of high school, and just when I was wishing it would be darker, it dove in feet first.  In the end it's very disturbing, but only reinforces the idea that these grotesque bouffants are not monsters, but just children that don't know any better.  I had the pleasure of seeing Les Enfants Terribles when they first started as sophomores in college (we are share an Alma Mater), and I am happy to see the group continuing to polish and refine their process.  I hope to see them around for many years, as a group like this could easily become a staple of Chicago theatre.

Les Enfants Terribles "Prom Night" runs Thursdays-Sundays at 8pm through August 14, 2010.  There are additional performances on 7/31 and 8/7 at 3pm.  All performances are at Red Tape Theatre at St. Peter's Episcopal Church (621 W. Belmont).  Tickets are $20.  For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.redtapetheatre.org.  For more information on this show, please visit the Theatre In Chicago Prom Night page.