By Amy Kuhre, SFR Intern
K. Suave Talk Show
7:30 pm Saturday, Nov. 7
Free
Back Road Pizza
1807 Second St.
955-9055
What do you call a lounge singing, burlesque dancing, story spinning and magic wielding clown? There is one simple syllable for all of this dizzying entertainment and her name is
. A shortcut to her given name, Sarah Leamy, Sleam is the mulit-faceted artist at work behind the otherwise unassuming persona. SFR caught up with Sleam on a snowy Thursday afternoon to unmask some of her secrets.
SFR: So I understand that you are a native Brit and you've done quite a bit of traveling. How has that influenced your work?
Sleam:
That's right, I spent most of my youth in England growing up in a very strict, quiet environment. However, when I decided to travel, I began to emerge from my shell. It's traveling that helped me to not care so much about other peoples' perception of me.
SFR: In your vaudeville act, you have a number of characters, have they always been there or did some of them hitch hike with you to the states?
Sleam:
From my childhood I developed the character of Miss Mabel who is a strict, British school teacher. She's very self-righteous, but a lot of fun to play. And then, when I moved to San Francisco, I enrolled in clown school, that's where I developed K. Suave who will be hosting the show on Saturday. I always envisioned him as a sort of 70's lounge singer with the polyester suits and lousy singing.
SFR: Since you mentioned Mr. Suave, what can we expect from him during the show?
Sleam:
Well, he's more the MC than the main event. K. Suave will open the show with some singing and then introduce the acts and in between there will be a bit of magic and storytelling. We've got a great line-up so it's sure to be a lot of fun!
SFR: Lastly, what is it that is so intriguing for you about clowns? I've always found them to be scary so I'm interested in what makes a person want to be one.
Sleam:
I think it is the American clown that people are scared of. When you consider that American clowns are usually part of a circus in a huge, exaggerated environment with too much make-up and a big red wig, it can be overwhelming. And when you see that as a child you tend not to forget it.But when kids see me with my little red nose and just a bit of face paint in my funny suit, I'm more accessible. I'm not really part of a side-show. It's the one-on-one contact that makes it fun for me. And it's a way for me to be outgoing since I am usually very shy.
Sleam a.k.a K. Suave performs with a line-up of other artists including belly dancer, Jasmine Quinsier, Zircus Erotique, Chicks with Chainsaws and Wenda Watch.
