Special Message from ‘Tomato’

We have toured for quite a number of years presenting the same format of clowning that I would deem, Traditional Clowning. One would understand the meaning of this via Laurel and Hardy films, and old style Cartoons that is the meaning of ‘Slapstick’. One will remember that slaps were inflicted that caused great laughter.

Indeed, the source of all laughter is pain of kinds, and sufferance’s. This was the basis of Laurel and Hardy films and also Charlie Chaplin, laughter at the expense of the victim being self or others.

This style of comedy is now thought wrong in some quarters but circus clowning was much the same. Big bangs, exploding cars, clothes being blown off perhaps, but audiences knew and children knew that it was only pretence.

What is the ‘modern’ style of comedy? Surely sardonic humour that is sometimes rather sick and hurtful can be more painful to the victim.

I do agree that we live in a more ‘sensitive’ age and I am conscious of that.
I do feel that the persona of the slapstick (circus) clown is now more and more misunderstood and that is why I write these few words. Many persons may have different views on the subject but I would suggest that the clown is just like Stan Laurel, like a child really. The clown should behave like a child and do childish things. I try to do this as ‘Tomato’.

In this persona the children of our audiences laugh greatly although I find that their parents do not quite understand? Perhaps the art of slapstick clowning is being lost?

I simply think that by trying to reach the level of the child I find the same level. The banana skin is funny to a child but not to the adult? But the victim suffers the pain of falling. This thought can then be countered when the victim falls on to a balloon and bounces back up again! Two laughs instead of one.
I perform one particular routine in our show that was performed by my grand father one hundred years ago. The clown is very cheeky to the ringmaster to such an extent that he is requested to apologies. Now the clown knows full well the correct meaning of the words but carries on being cheeky by saying the wrong words in reply deliberately.

The point of this sketch in art form means that the ringmaster is not as wise as the clown because he does not realise that fun is being made of him so chastises the clown by hitting him with a slapstick that causes great hilarity. I have changed this to a simple leg sock and the children are asked ‘should the clown be socked?,

They shout ‘yes’ loudly. The clown is struck with a woollen sock but reacts as if it is a heavy object. Children understand this humour absolutely – I do hope that parent will also.

We need to provide much more real enjoyment and simple laughter for our children – this world is not as happy as it should be is it.