Types of Comedy
What are the four types of comedy studied in class?
Slapstick
Satire
Surrealism
Which clown has the highest status?
White Face
Who were the first types of clowns and who did they entertain?
Jesters were around in 3000BC and entertained the Kings and Queens.
What is a take?
*A Take – When a clown reacts to something with a frozen attitude or facial expression.
Clown must always have...
Energy
Slapstick is the most obvious form of Physical humour where people slip, fall or bump into each other without hurting themselves.
What is a White Face Clown? Personality, costume & make up.
The Whiteface clown has white facial makeup and features painted in red and black.
They usually wear a colourful and outrageous wig.
These clowns are the ‘straight guys’ when working with other clowns. They try and keep their dignity no matter what happens.
Why colours did Jesters wear? Harlequin was based off this clown.
Green & red
What is important about a clown walk?
A clown walk must show a clown's personality.
Optimistic
What is 'Farce'?
Farce shows real or believable people/characters in unreal situations.
Everything that could go wrong does go wrong.
What is an 'Auguste' Clown?
*This is the type most people are familiar with today.
*Facial features are bright, big, exaggerated happy face.
*Costume is oversized (even shoes) and bright.
*Personality is well-meaning but clumsy.
*This clown has big ambitions but lousy skills often leading to slapstick humour.
*Auguste’s are often partnered with Whiteface clowns as the bumbling sidekick.
Who is considered the 'father of clowning' and which clown did he develop? What did this clown look like and act like?
Joseph Grimaldi created Harlequin.
*Harlequin – this clown had a white face, wore a mask over the eyes and nose and wore colorful tights. They were often the ‘tricksters’, spoiling the tricks of other clowns.
What is a slow burn?
*This is a take in which a clown slowly expresses that they are about to burst open or burn up with rage.
The clown knows.....
Nothing
What is Satire?
Give an example.
Satire makes fun of the way certain people behave and is used to show how ridiculous human beings can be at times, particularly people who influence our lives (famous people, politicians).
Satire can be used in skits, cartoons, advertisements etc. An example is making fun of a politician by pretending to be them and having a funny voice.
It is used to make fun of people and make the audience think about behaviour and how ridiculous we can look. This might lead to people changing their behaviour.
What is a 'Hobo' Clown? Give an example of where a Hobo might be used in a skit.
*Hobos are also swaggies or tramps.
*They are clever but poor and always chasing money.
*Costumes are tattered and patched clothing with holes in their shoes.
*They wear a sad expression on their face.
*Unfortunate things happen to these clowns so they are always down-in-the-dumps.
Perhaps, they come in looking for food and look in a bucket and pull all sorts of things out of a bucket (except food) but, they do find some money. The White Face (cleaner) then comes back, slow burns and then puts everything back in the bucket to tidy up and shuffles Hobo of the stage, Hobo could hide in the audience until he gets another chance to look in the bucket.
*Jean Gaspard Deburau was considered the performer who ‘gave birth' to which clown character? What did they look like and act like?
Pierrot – also had a white face, with touches of black added to the eyes, perhaps a simple line or diamond shape. A touch of red went on the tip of the nose. The costume was usually white, oversized with a ruffled collar. Pierrot acted as a ‘dignified’ clown
What is stylised movement?
Exaggerated movements and gesture.
Clowns always say...
Yes
What is 'Surrealism'?
Surrealism is the weirdest form of humour. The word surreal means ‘beyond real life’. Surreal humour works by astonishing us with the most outrageous happenings so that we have no idea at all what will happen next.
What is a 'Character' Clown?' What is an example of a Character Clown?
*These are uniquely created clowns by specific performers.
*Character clowns have an ‘everyman’ quality.
*Each costume and makeup design is different.
*Each personality is unique to the individual.
For example a police officer or ballerina?
When did Commedia characters start entertaining? Who were they entertaining?
During the 17th Century, Commedia characters roamed the country side acting out scenarios with clown like stock characters.
What is a reversal?
Think of what normally happens and ‘turn it on its head’. In other words, look at it from the opposite angle. Something happens that the audience doesn't expect.
Clowns never want to...
leave the stage.