The Clown Who Ran Away

The Clown Who Ran Away, a comedy for children in two acts, was written by Conrad Seiler in the late 1940s. It’s the adventurous tale of a heroic clown named Dodo, who saves six dolls from the evil clutches of Rudolph Bernard Boo and his minion, Ugly. Watch as this runaway clown becomes the town hero!
The San Diego Union called this production a “charming fantasy” in playwright Stuart Walker’s portmanteau theatre style, in which Dodo the Clown (the play’s director, Frank Crawford) has all the scenery in his two big suitcases, and he assembles it as he carries on his dialogue with members of the audience.
The production was held at Roosevelt Junior High School Auditorium, with other outreach performances planned for schools in La Mesa, La Jolla, Chula Vista and Coronado.
Cast (partial)
Dodo the Clown - Frank Crawford
Mr Frumpkin, the dollmaker - Gary Riggs
Andrew, Frumpkin’s assistant - James Riley
Gladys the Horse - Beverly Foster, Marie Phinney
Policeman - Carl Page
Elegant Man - Don Chadwick
Rudolph Bernard Boo - Jim Pierik
Ugly, Boo’s minion - Jon Sutherland
Frumkin’s Dolls - Darlene Geer, Gail Rundstrom, Judy Bledsoe, Lorraine Keen, Carol Lawrence
Villagers - Jane Fitzpatrick, Dick Allen, Vicki Gleiszner, Sue Lawrence, Marilyn Galvin
Crew
Sets - Henry Shelton