clown

The clown is one of the favourite characters of the circus. When he enters the ring, the audience joyfully laughs away the stress of preceding acts. Clowns are most entertaining because they hold up a mirror to the crowd. They caricature our innermost self and enlarge human manners to ridiculous proportions.

Although clowns often seem to have a clumsy and careless behaviour, their act is the result of intensive training. Possibly, of all circus artists a clown receives the most comprehensive schooling. Sheer comical talent is not enough; in addition his body control has to be perfect. Nevertheless, the most significant talent is to be found on another level: a good clown must have an excellent appreciation of his audience. Of all the circus disciplines, the clown’s act depends the most of the audience’s reaction.