Performances Power ‘World of Mirth’

“Nothing is funnier than unhappiness, I’ll grant you that.” This line from Samuel Beckett’s “Endgame” could be the motto for Murphy Guyer’s bitter valentine to carnival freaks. “The World of Mirth” at the Tamarind Theatre is about as mirthful as King Lear’s fool. An enraged, alcoholic sideshow clown is mourning the suicide of the armless/legless “Oscar, the Amazing Frog Boy.” Seated precariously in a cage like a court jester on a throne, the clown dares passersby to “dump Bozo” into a water tank--for a price.

But this clown’s sales pitch is to tell the truth, often in rhyming couplets. “Bozo sees all,” he shrieks, irritating the Wild Woman of Borneo (Cindy Keiter), among other sideshow workers.

Jay Rubenstein’s clown is the stuff of nightmares, seething with tragic despair and Shakespearean eloquence. His epic performance is the center ring of a fascinating story about a dying world, framed by several fine performances, all directed with wit and wisdom by Richard Embardo.

* “The World of Mirth,” Tamarind Theatre, 5915 Franklin, Hollywood. Mondays-Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Ends July 7. $15. (213) 466-1767. Running time: 2 hours.