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Clown with his back to the wall: CCT debuts winter play

Published 2:42 pm Thursday, February 19, 2026

By Gillian Francis

Andrew Weitzel (as Murray Burns) and Helena Mott (as Sandra Markowitz) in CCT’s “A Thousand Clowns.” (Barry Coulter photo)
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Andrew Weitzel (as Murray Burns) and Helena Mott (as Sandra Markowitz) in CCT’s “A Thousand Clowns.” (Barry Coulter photo)

Andrew Weitzel (as Murray Burns) and Helena Mott (as Sandra Markowitz) in CCT’s “A Thousand Clowns.” (Barry Coulter photo)
Andrew Weitzel (as Murray Burns) and Finley Wilmot (as Nick Burns) in CCT’s “A Thousand Clowns.” (Barry Coulter photo)
Andrew Weitzel (as Murray Burns) and Finley Wilmot (as Nick Burns) in CCT’s “A Thousand Clowns.” (Barry Coulter photo)
Andrew Weitzel (as Murray Burns), Finley Wilmot (as Nick Burns), Helena Mott (as Sandra Markowitz) and Sanjay Fisk (as Albert Amundsen) in CCT’s “A Thousand Clowns.” (Barry Coulter photo)
Andrew Weitzel (as Murray Burns) and Finley Wilmot (as Nick Burns) in CCT’s “A Thousand Clowns.” (Barry Coulter photo)
Andrew Weitzel (as Murray Burns) and Sanjay Fisk (as Albert Amundsen) in CCT’s “A Thousand Clowns.” (Barry Coulter photo)
Helena Mott (as Sandra Markowitz) and Finley Wilmot (as Nick Burns) in CCT’s “A Thousand Clowns.” (Barry Coulter photo)
Denis Senecal (as Arnold Burns) and Andrew Weitzel (as Murray Burns) in CCT’s “A Thousand Clowns.” (Barry Coulter photo)
Denis Senecal (as Arnold Burns) and Andrew Weitzel (as Murray Burns) in CCT’s “A Thousand Clowns.” (Barry Coulter photo)
Jerrod Bondy (as Leo Herman) and Finley Wilmot (as Nick Burns) in CCT’s “A Thousand Clowns.” (Barry Coulter photo)
Andrew Weitzel (as Murray Burns) and Jerrod Bondy (as Leo Herman) in CCT’s “A Thousand Clowns.” (Barry Coulter photo)
Jerrod Bondy (as Leo Herman), Finley Wilmot (as Nick Burns) and Andrew Weitzel (as Murray Burns) in CCT’s “A Thousand Clowns.” (Barry Coulter photo)

Murray Burns lives his life as if he’s walking on a tight rope; precariously balancing on a shifting string that threatens to slip out from under him, yet reveling in the excitement and uncertainty that comes with taking the next step.

Murray is the protagonist and anti-hero of Cranbrook Community Theatre’s latest play, A Thousand Clowns. Directed by Michael Grossman and Stephanie Best, this comedy-drama debuts Feb. 20 and runs until Mar. 7 at Studio Stage Door.

Murray (Andrew Weitzel) is an unemployed children’s TV writer, known for his work in creating the character Chuckles the Chipmunk. He lives with his soon-to-be-teenage nephew Nick (Finley Wilmot) and the two share a close father-son bond. Nick has been under Murray’s care for seven years, and while he may parent in an unconventional way, they share an undeniable connection.

When social worker-psychologist duo Sandra Markowitz (Helena Mott) and Albert Amundson (Sanjay Fisk) begin investigating their living situation, Murray is forced to contend with the idea Nick could be removed from his care if he doesn’t make changes to his lifestyle.

Murray sees himself as a bit of a maverick and he’s more focused on living life authentically than going to work or seeking financial stability. He delights in defying social convention, and is happy waking up not knowing what the day will bring. He lives life on the edge of his seat, always ready to pivot in a new direction when the opportunity calls.

Murray’s life is a stark contrast to his ambitious brother Arnold (Denis Senecal) and his optimistic entrepreneurial former boss Leo Herman (Jerrod Bondy), but he’s just happy to live life as he sees fit — full of colour and spirited playful fun. He’s too busy watching boats leave the New York harbour and climbing to the top of the Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty, to bother being confined to an office or predictable schedule.

Murray’s life is like a circus, except he’s not performing for anyone but himself for his own amusement. It’s a show about clowns, with no clowns.

Murray tells a witty joke, about a small car that pulls up to a circus. One clown jumps out and exits the vehicle, followed by another and another, until the circus is filled with thousands of them. As he sees it, the clowns represent the different possibilities in life and different aspects of our self that we can choose to embrace or reject.

Clowns are simply a metaphor for the playful nature hidden inside everyone.

Murray delights in teasing the other characters with his playfully cynical banter, and isn’t afraid to step on a few toes. Yet, underneath his carefree exterior, he’s worried. He’s spent his life raising Nick according to his carefully cultivated values, and he doesn’t want the outside forces of society to extinguish Nick’s joy and authenticity.

His resistance to conformity makes him a true free-spirit, but he also comes across as abrasively stubborn and unlikeable at times. There are two sides to his character and it’s difficult to tell whether he’s a creative genius or simply selfish. Regardless of individual interpretation, the message of the play is deep and gives the audience food for thought.

A Thousand Clowns, written by Herb Gardner, directed by Michael Grossman and Stephanie Best, and produced by Vaughan Dumanian and Sally Masters, runs at Studio Stage Door Feb. 20-21, Feb. 26-28, and Mar. 5-7 at 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 22 and Mar. 1 at 2:00 p.m.

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