“I don’t want to be called ‘the greatest’ or ‘one of the greatest’; let other guys claim to be the best. I just want to be known as a clown because to me that’s the height of my profession. It means you can do everything-sing, dance, and above all, make people laugh.”
Red Skelton
“I don’t want to be called ‘the greatest’ or ‘one of the greatest’; let other guys claim to be the best. I just want to be known as a clown because to me that’s the height of my profession. It means you can do everything-sing, dance, and above all, make people laugh.”
Red Skelton
«Clowns work as well as aspirin, but twice as fast.”
Groucho Marx
“To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain and play with it!”
Charlie Chaplin
«A clown sees life simply, without complications.»
George Bishop
“I remain just one thing, and one thing only — and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician.”
Charlie Chaplin
«The genius of clowning is transforming the little, everyday annoyances, not only overcoming, but actually transforming them into something strange and terrific, it is the power to extract mirth for millions out of nothing and less than nothing.»
Karl Adrien “Grock” Wettach
«By laughing at me, the audience really laughs at themselves and realizing they have done this, gives them sort of a spiritual second wind for going back into the battles of life.»
Emmett Kelly, Sr.
«For several years now, the clown has taken on great importance as part of the search for what is laughable and ridiculous in man. We [should] put the emphasis on the rediscovery of our own individual clown, the one that has grown-up within us and which society does not allow us to express.»
Jacques Lequoc (1973)
Act the fool, play the calf, and you’ll always have the last laugh.
Wear the cap and the bells and you’ll rate all the great swells.
If you become a doctor, folks’ll face you with dread.
If you become a dentist, they’ll be glad when you’re dead.
You get a bigger hand if you can stand on your head.
Be a clown, be a clown, be a clown.
Be a clown, be a clown, all the world loves a clown.
Be a crazy buffoon and the ‘demoiselles ‘ll all swoon.
Dress in huge baggy pants and you’ll ride the road to romance.
A butcher or a baker, ladies never embrace.
A barber for a beau would be a social disgrace.
They’ll come to call if you can fall on your face.
Be a clown, be a clown, be a clown.
Be a clown, be a clown, all the world loves a clown.
Be the poor silly ass and you’ll always travel first class.
Give ’em quips, give ’em fun and they’ll pay to say you’re A-one.
If you become a farmer, you’ve the weather to buck.
If become a gambler you’ll be struck with your luck.
But jack you’ll never lack if you can quack like a duck.
Be a clown, be a clown, be a clown.
Cole Porter, “Be A Clown” from the movie “The Pirate“
(1948) with Judy Garland, Gene Kelly
Jango Edwards Clowns bleven mijn levenspad kruisen. Midden jaren zeventig ging ik studeren in Amsterdam. Ieder jaar opnieuw zagen we Jango Edwards als het stralende middelpunt van het Festival of fools. Van Edwards leerde ik dat clowning zo oud is als de lach, maar ook dat het meer kan zijn dan een manier van leven. Clown zijn is ook een serieuze professie. Clowns hebben volgens Edwards het vermogen om spanningen te doorbreken die mensen voor zichzelf en in sociale situaties creëren. De clown helpt de opgebouwde spanning te begrijpen en de status quo te doorbreken. Dat doet de clown door een spiegel te zijn. Een goede clownsacteur heeft de vaardigheid om zowel extern als intern te observeren. Het uiterlijke zelf van de clown kan daardoor een model van het absurde worden, terwijl het innerlijke zelf van de clown een ‘tempel van de rede’ wordt. Goede clowns hebben het vermogen om je op verschillende manieren diep te raken en te laten nadenken over je hele zijn. Clowns kunnen, zoals Edwards het zegt, ‘dansen met je ziel’. Kom maar eens om zo’n coach.
MISS B. HAVEN
LIFE OF THE PARTY
NOUVEAU CLOWN INSTITUTE 