The Skyliner

Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: Entertainment & Features

Media Credit: Lance Skipper Daniel Jordan, senior theatre, plays the role of Lio, a jealous character who despises Giovanni's talent and delights in his own shortcomings. In this scene, Lio struts across the stage in a sulky manner as he tells the audience how Giovanni is just a big show off. In several scenes, Lio is found attempting to recreate some of Giovanni's juggling routines, but in these instances, Lio clumsily drops the equipment in a less than elegant fashion. Giovanni later realizes that his gift of juggling was not given to him to satisfy his needs but to be used to glorify God. Lio witnesses this realization and experiences a change of heart.

Media Credit: Lance Skipper Daniel Jordan, senior theatre, entertains Britney Teie, NGU Alumna, in the hopes of not only getting three free apples, but also getting a basket to carry them in as well.

Kyra Alexander
Staff Writer


The play "The Clown of God" was performed at 7:30 p.m. on March 10 in Turner Chapel.

This was a one-man act by Daniel Jordan. Jordan played the main roles, supported at times by Brittany Teie. He is also on the improv team.

Jordan created this play for his senior project. He adapted it from the children's book "The Clown of God," written by Tomie dePaola and based on a French legend.

In preparation for his role, Jordan spent 1 1/2 years learning to juggle so that he could pursue this dream.

The play is set in Sorrento, Italy, and told the story of a man named Giovanni.

Giovanni loved to juggle, make people happy and please them with his talent. Meanwhile, there is also a man Lio who is jealous of Giovanni's abilities.

Lio cannot juggle and feels worthless. To steal Giovanni's talents, Lio decides to follow Giovanni and spy on him.

In the end, Giovanni and Lio discover that it was never about them, the people or juggling. Instead, life is and has always been for God.

The moral of the story was to give every gift God has given you back to him to bring glory to his name.

Jordan used masks in the play to represent the characters, Giovanni and Lio.

Each paper mache mask he used came from the Italian company Commedia Dell'arte. He learned to make these masks from Owen Robertson and Doug Berkee.

Jordan said others hearing the message of God was important to him and he felt he shares the gospel of Christ best through drama.

Jordan also has plans to take his play on tour and update it later. He said updating his movable backdrops is one of his goals because he designed and built them to take on tour.

"This is a kid friendly, funny, and fun play that I hope everyone will enjoy," Jordan said.

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