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ha ha ha ha ha ha ha :: Rusty's Electric Dreams :: Issue #374
I’m fresh off of seeing, and being part of, Julia Masli’s awesome ha ha ha ha ha ha ha show. I don’t even know if I can do it justice writing about it, but let’s goooooo…
No spoilers, pinky promise.
After a few people urged me to see it (you know who you are, thank you!), I noticed the Pasadena Playhouse run was ending Sunday. So, I went alone Friday night (only single tickets were left), left completely jazzed, and bought a pair for Saturday’s matinee, insisting my weekend guest come straight from LAX to join me. Touchdown was 12:30, show at 2. If you know L.A. traffic, you know this was pushing it.
I’m pleased to report it worked out perfectly.
Somehow I scored a front row aisle seat and ended up onstage as part of the show. I lost a sock, watched it symbolically burn in a cauldron, and, at the end, held up a sign with a message I’d written for the audience to see (proof at the bottom of the email).
Julia is an Estonian clown who trained at École Philippe Gaulier in France (Sacha Baron Cohen went there too). The show debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe and was named “Best of the Year” by The Guardian. She spends much of it moving through the audience with a golden mannequin leg fitted with a mic, simply asking “Problem?” and then earnestly community-solving it in real time.
Every performance is different because every audience is different. It’s part experimental theater, part comedy, and a big reminder of humanity.
What really moved me wasn’t being onstage or making the sign. It was watching Julia create joy and connection out of thin air. She made a room full of strangers feel seen. She reminded me that not all clowns wear red noses. The best ones show us how ridiculous and tender we all are. I later learned that at the Gaulier school, they call it being the “beautiful idiot.” To me, that’s what Julia embodies: not a fool, but a mirror, a healer, a reminder that we’re all tender, flawed, and trying our damndest.
That’s what got me. She gave people permission to play, to be vulnerable, and offered surprise and delight as the reward. It resonated deeply with my own work and how I want to show up more in the world. I left elated. It connected some real dots for me.
So I did something I never in a million years would have dreamed I’d do... wait for it… I signed up for a workshop at a local clown school. Me! Listen, after so many years basically living online, I’ve been craving something physical. A way to reconnect my brain and heart to my body. Why not clown school?!
So, yeah, the whole experience felt so magical that I’m now trying to gather the group of us who participated in that show for a little reunion.
If you get the chance to see ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, just go. You must. That’s all there is to it.
— Rusty Blazenhoff
P.S. If you ARE cool with spoilers, read this.
Real thing you can actually buy: YES, WAY!
Can you even call yourself ‘quirky’ without one? Also, $100 is a BARGAIN for a custom-made banana phone.
Events
[Washington, D.C. :: 11/13 - 12/21] I don’t know how many D.C. readers are here, but if you are, get tickets to ho ho ho ha ha ha ha STAT. It’s a version of Julia’s show where she solves your holiday problems. (Fingers crossed the main show travels in 2026 so more of us can join the beautiful chaos.)
BAY AREA, CA+
Participate: Art + Water, Church of Clown, Explorers Guild, Medicine Theater
Spectate*: Aftel Archive, Artists Television Access (omg, help them out!), Cinemasthesia, City Arts & Events, The Marsh, Raining Chainsaws, Rilly Big Shows, State of Play, TEPCO Beach (at low tide)
Also: Get on Richie Rhombus’ Cool Happenings list (beautifully described as an “in-the-know guide for intimate, quirky, thoughtful events as well as ridiculous parties and larger gatherings outside the mainstream”).
LOS ANGELES, CA+
Participate: The Clown School, Junior High L.A., “secret stairs,” Stash House
Spectate*: archival, Black Rabbit Rose, Bob Baker Marionette Theater, Cinespia, Curate.LA, Davey B. Gravey’s Tiny Cinema, Descanso Gardens, Dynasty Typewriter, The Elysian, Freak Nature, Groundlings, Hollywood Forever, Improvised Shakespeare Company, Largo at the Coronet, Lodge Room (don’t miss Middle Aged Dad Jam Band on NYE), Lucky Tiki Speakeasy, Magic Castle, Museum of Jurassic Technology, New Beverly, 1iota.com (live tapings), Off the 405 (summer only), Philosophical Research Society, 3-D Space (by appt only), 2220 Arts, UnCabaret, “Unique and Unusual” museums, Valley Relics, Vidiots, Whammy! Analog
My personal favorite? The Los Angeles Breakfast Club
Also: Volunteer for the 2028 L.A. Olympics
[L.A. :: now-1/25] Looks Delicious! | Exploring Japan’s Food Replica Culture (thx, Ambar!)
[NoHo :: 11/14] Come See Me in the Good Light producers Jessica Hargrave and Tig Notaro will do a Q & A after the 7:20 p.m. screening at Laemmle NoHo
[L.A. :: opens 11/14] Beautiful Mutants group show at Mark Mothersbaugh’s MutMuz Gallery
❤️ [Los Angeles :: 11/18-4/12] This one is for all the culture jammers**: How to Be a Guerrilla Girl at Getty Center
❤️ [L.A. :: 11/26] The Mitford Sisters and Me with Mimi Pond at L.A. Breakfast Club, 7 a.m.
[L.A. :: 11/23] An Afternoon evening with Charles Phoenix at Bob Baker Marionette Theater ❤️ 4:30 p.m. New show added: 8 p.m. (sold out) [Tickets]
[L.A. :: 12/13] L.A. Santacon***
[L.A. :: 12/22] El Vez & the Centuries, Merry MEX-mas 2025 at the Lodge Room (Also, 12/20 at Alex’s Bar in Long Beach)
ELSEWHERE
❤️ [Greece :: 6/11-13] Call for Participants: Odyssey Works’ audience of one
[London :: 11/19] Lil Wenker: Bangtail at Museum of Comedy
❤️ [Dropout :: 11/19] Demi Adejuyigbe Is Going To Do 1 (One) Backflip premieres (do you remember Demi from the 9/21 videos?)
[Portland :: 11/21] Carte Blanche: Matt Wolf + Pee-Wee As Himself
[NYC :: Ongoing but random] Shadow Traffic
[Several U.S. Cities :: Ongoing] Odd Salon, Fou Fou Ha!
[Several U.S. Cities :: now-2/19] A John Waters Christmas
[Worldwide :: Now] Choir! Choir! Choir!, Patti Smith’s on tour (& has a new book)
❤️= I plan on attending!
*Some of these could also go under “Participate,” depending on who you are
Proof the Internet still has a soul
You made it to the bottom. Here comes your present.
[Link Code: TT=TikTok, IG=Instagram, YT=YouTube, SS=Substack]
:: **Speaking of culture jamming, the kids are alright!
:: ***Speaking of Santacon, now there’s a documentary about it (IG trailer) (premieres 11/13 at Doc NYC)
:: Creating Anna Madrigal (SS)
:: Meow Wolf x Mexakitsch? Yes, please! (available Nov. 24-Dec. 1)
:: Brian Eno’s art for ~$658.25? Yes, please! (available Nov. 12)
:: You owe yourself to check out whisperbubble (SS)
:: There’s no time for nonchalance. (TT)
:: No Thanks (IG)
:: The Freshmaker! (TT)
Yes, you have readers in DC 🙂
The Freshmaker! What a blast from the past, thx! Great issue as always.