Mump & Smoot: Cracked, playing until May 15^th at Alberta Theatre Projects, is a lot of things: funny, dark, violent, and most surprisingly very emotional. All of this combines to make a unique night of theatre.

Speaking in a mix of English and gibberish, the two clowns Mump (Michael Kennard) and Smoot (John Turner), inhabit a parallel universe called Ummo, worship a god named Ummo and speak their own brand of gibberish, Ummonian. Waking up from some sort of dangling sack, the show explores a day in the life of the two characters.

First lesson: Don't be late to the show. Two different groups found out why as they were chastised for it in a hilarious manner. They were reminded throughout the show of their blasphemy, though not in a way that got uncomfortable.

Second Lesson: Don't be faint of heart. The show features blood and violence which had the audience laughing in shock.

Third Lesson: Prepare to fall in love with baby clown puppets, and their full-fledged adult forms.

To say much more risks spoiling the twists and turns of the emotional journey that the clowns take the audience on. I will say, I was surprised that the show tugged so strongly on my heartstrings.

But it is a show about the love between two people – whether they are brothers, father and son, or just friends is never really clear – and how they would do anything for each other.  The "Clowns of Horror" have really created something special in Cracked. Check it out while there is still time.v