Casanova, history’s great philanderer and adventurer, has never been as funny.

Jonathan (Jon) Tilley, master clown and Oxford graduate, has taken ‘Histoire De Ma Vie’, Giacomo Casanova’s autobiography, and turned it into a hysterical, high-energy farce.

The story is told through a series of flashbacks where Casanova’s most notorious escapades are played out with Jon assuming all the roles in this brilliant one-man show.

A few liberties have been taken with the storyline, but it still features romantic conquests aplenty, brushes with the law, duels and generally depicts a devil-may-care opportunist pursuing the life of a swashbuckler.

The best moments are when Casanova engages with the audience, particularly his frequent succumbing to crushes, playing up his instant besottedness to the max. The soundtrack is superb with classical pieces and contemporary tunes setting the tempo for the performance, but still leaving room for animal noises when required.

There is no doubt that Jon is a consummate physical comedian and mime artist. The aristocratic flick of his hair, the galloping horse, and the lovestruck entrancement are hilarious and showcase a highly accomplished clown right on top of his game.

Casanova was an Italian by birth but travelled throughout Europe and spent significant time in France, and Jon utilises French and Italian in his script. This is part of the charm and gives the performance a certain sophistication, but also presents something of a challenge for the audience to keep up with the storyline, especially with the frequent persona switches.

It’s great that Jon has brought this enchanting new show to FRINGE WORLD. What a great opportunity to see an outstanding clown in action. There’s even a gig on St Valentine’s Day!