The purpose of Bubkus is to show the audience the beauty and possibility of a play without words, without bright lights and loads of witticisms.  In a world where everything beeps, flashes, shakes, rattles and rolls, Jesse is offering a simple vision of a simple man struggling with his position in the world. 

The word “bubkus” is Yiddish for “nothing”, and Bubkus was in fact created out of nothing.  Using only a blanket, a pillow and a toothbrush, the clown takes the audience through a conventional fairy tale.  His role as clown and the expectation of those around him to be funny has left him feeling alone and disenchanted both with the world and with his audience.  He tries to tell the audience, without words, a story about love.  However, his disenchantment and bitterness comes through and begins to infect the story, twisting it towards a tragic end. 

With Bubkus, Jesse explores “dramatic clowning” to pull, push and envelope the audience in a world of make-believe, which can simultaneously be beautiful and alarming, joyous and tragic.  Clown is mainly known for its tendency towards comedy, however with Bubkus Jesse is developing a more emotionally driven style of Clown.  Working to destroy its surrounding stereotypes, He is trying to show a clown that feels pain, anger, resentment as well as joy, innocence and a love for comedy.