Transcript Send in the clowns

“A clown is like an aspirin except that
it works twice as fast.”
- Groucho Marx
Robert Gilbert © 2006
Send in the clowns
Research task for Drama NCEA 1.3
Achievement Standard: 90008 version 4
Demonstrate knowledge of a theatre genre or style through a
practical presentation
CONTENTS
•Introduction
•The Greeks
•The Romans
•The Middle Ages
•Comedia Dell’ Arte
•Elizabethan
•Circus Clowns
•Silent Film Era
•Modern Mime
•New Zealand Clowns
•Television Clowns
•Conclusion
•Bibliography
End Show
Introduction
Dictionaries
us part we
of the
story:
Nowadays, tell
of course,
have
they
define and
a “clown”
as a buffoon,
television
film clowns
and
So
whatand
isa aprofessional
clown? What
is
Clowns
clowning
have
been
with
astreet
jester,
entertainer
theatre clowns as well as in
clowning?
humankind
the
beginning
of
time;
a the
playclowns
or since
a circus,
who
entertains
who perform in the by
theytricks,
have
been
an
important
part
of
every
and
jokes,
a
zany
person.
traditional places such as
human’s
life.
theatres and the circus.
Clowning in the first formal
theatres – Ancient Greece
Greek theatre arose out of the ritual
pantomimes they used to honour
the out
god more
of wine.
The
Click Dionysos,
here to find
about
pantomime/dance
of the satyrs
– the first
clowning in Ancient
Greece
recorded examples of clowning – was
called “komos'' (a revel) – the source of
our word “comedy”.
Clowning and the theatre of the
Roman Empire
It was the Romans who developed
completely silent mime, possibly
Click
to find out
moreAndronicus
about
fromhere
a performer
called
clowning
Roman
who lostand
histhe
voice
during a
Empire.continued the
performance,
performance in mime alone and
started a new and very popular
fashion: pantomime.
The Church allows drama a
new role in the Middle Ages.
It was in the 10th century that the skills
of pantomime/clowning – later with
Click added
here to–find
out more
dialogue
became
a regular part
about clowning
and by
thewhich
Middle
of church
life: a means
the
Ages.
Or “educate”
click here its
to find
out
church
could
illiterate
about Court Jesters.
congregations.
Commedia dell’arte
In Italy, during the 15th century, the
strands of theatre and pantomime
combined
newmore
theatre form,
Click
here tointo
finda out
the commedia
dell’arte, which is
about
comedia dell’arte.
still popular today. Their costumes
and masks were similar to those
used in Roman pantomime, e.g.
Harlequin’s and Clown’s costumes.
Shakespeare’s England
In England in the 16th century,
because of the popularity of the
great playwrights of the Elizabethan
period, e.g. Shakespeare, commedia
groups
stopped
speaking
and began
Click here
to find
out more
toabout
use only
mime. Overclowns.
the centuries
Elizabethan
songs, dance, acrobatics, aerial
tricks, elaborate costumes and sets
were added.
Circus clowns
Because circus clowns performed in very
large spaces they used acrobatics, special
costumes and tricks. They also wore a
Click
to paint
find out
more a
special
typehere
of face
or make-up:
white faceabout
with acircus
large red
nose and lips,
clowns.
and “tears” below the eyes. Each clown
creates their own “style” of that make-up.
Clowns of the silent film era
Mack Sennett was one of the first
comedy producers. He encouraged his
performers to improvise in the style of the
Click here
to find
more
commedia
dell’arte,
butout
using
really
exaggerated
Hethe
wassilent
responsible
aboutslapstick.
clowns of
for the careers of
such
great film clowns
film
era.
as Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, and
Buster Keaton.
Modern mime clowns
Mime clowning as a mainly silent art
has been recovered and there have
been many famous mime artists who
have had
a great
onmore
clowning.
Click
here influence
to find out
Mime
are not
always
aboutperformers
modern mime
clowns.
clowns; they use tragedy as well as
humour to create their characters and
scenes.
New Zealand clowns
We have performers in clowning in
New Zealand also. “Mime
International” uses clowning skills
in their mime performances. Some
Click
here
to
find
out
more
contemporary street theatre clowns
about
New
Zealand
clowns.
working
in New
Zealand
are: Luke
Deverey of Pantaloonery and
Jonathon Acorn of Acorn
Productions.
Television clowns
There are many clowns who
perform on television. The most
famous of them is probably Rowan
Click
here whose
to findcharacter,
out more
Atkinson,
Mr
about
clowns.
Bean,television
uses traditional
clown
performance techniques but does
not use the traditional clothing,
make-up or situations.
Conclusion
Bibliography
NCEA Internal Assessment Resource, Ministry of Education, 2004
http://www.animationfactory.com
http://www.clownschool.net/History/Hbeginnings.html
http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3mime.htm
http://www.montreat.edu/dking/MiddleEnglishLit/NotesonMedievalDrama.htm
http://www.jester.net/CourtJs.htm
http://www.davidclaudon.com/arte/commedia.html
http://www.clown-ministry.com/History/robert-armin.html
http://www.johnshepler.com/articles/circus.html
http://www.filmsite.org/comedyfilms2.html
http://www.frenchculture.org/perfo/events/marceau/bio.html
http://www.acornproductions.co.nz/
http://www.rowanatkinson.org/mr_bean.htm
Acknowledgements
http://www.uselessgraphics.com/clowns4.htm
- also available 'royalty free' at http://www.animationfactory.com
Jester ('Blinking' animation created by R. Gilbert)
http://www.thenoodlebowl.com/jesters/images/images/whitelady.jpg
p.5 Greek Mask http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/comedy/
p.6 Roman Columns http://agrino.org/virtualcy/photos/apollon5.jpg
p.7 Jester http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/drama1_2Bv3_15mar03.doc
p.8 Pulcinella http://xoomer.virgilio.it/Barudda/Maschere_Italiane.htm
p.9 Globe http://www.clt.astate.edu/wnarey/Shakespeare%20Survey%20pictures/illustratio
ns.htm
p.10 Circus Clown (ed. R. Gilbert) http://artposters.net/posters/newart/hc753.jpg
p.11 Charlie Chaplin (ed. R. Gilbert)
http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/USPics12/chaplin-kid.JPEG
p.12 Marcel Marceau (ed. R. Gilbert)
http://www.un.org/ageing/marcelmarceau.htm
p.13 Animated NZ Flag http://www.multimediapalace.com/wff/n/nz-flag.htm
p.14 Mr Bean (ed. R.Gilbert) http://www.chez.com/bean/
P.15 Conclusion. Timeline http://www.clownschool.net/History/HISTORY.html