To begin with educational program:
Clown (English clown, from Latin colonus - man, rude), in modern meaning term - a circus, pop or theater artist who uses grotesque and buffoonery techniques. Related definitions: jester, clown, clown, fool, etc.
The word “clown” itself arose at the beginning of the 16th century; originally this was the name of a comic character in the English medieval theater, akin to Harlequin, Polichinelle, Ganswurst, etc. He was a rude and awkward country guy who served as an object of ridicule for city residents. The role of the Clown was full of rude jokes; her performance traditionally had a strong element of improvisation. Very soon the Clown penetrated beyond the boundaries of comedy - for example, William Shakespeare often introduces this character into his tragedies (in Russian translations - the Jester; one of the most famous Shakespearean heroes is the Jester in King Lear). TO XVII century The clown has practically disappeared from dramaturgy, remaining mainly in epilogues. His name became a household name, and was assigned to performers of buffoon roles in pantomimes and booths.
In modern circus and pop art Clowns work, as a rule, in pairs or in a group (a stable traditional clown pair is the “red” and “white” clowns). During a solo performance, the partner of the “red” clown can be a ringmaster or a uniform artist; in a variety show - the audience in the hall or an individual spectator.
Circus clowns have many specializations (musical eccentrics, carpet performers, acrobats, trainers, pantomime performers, etc.), but there is no clear division: most circus clowns, as a rule, work in a variety of genres.
Clown is one of the most democratic and at the same time the most complex and universal specializations of an actor. History knows no examples of the mastery of the clownery genre by tragic artists; however, opposite examples are not so rare. Many outstanding clowns (including circus clowns) achieved significant success in cinematic and theatrical roles of the tragic repertoire (Yu. Nikulin, L. Engibarov, V. Polunin).
*http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clown
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I tried to avoid just comedians and pop singers, no matter how close to clowning they may be (Charlie Chaplin, Mr. Bean or Buster Keaton).
There may be flaws and mistakes - everything can be corrected.
Slava Polunin (June 12, 1950) Gemini Tiger/King
He is called "the best clown in the world." His "SNOW SHOW" is recognized as a "theatrical classic of the 20th century." He doesn’t do anything at all: everything that happens in his life is very thorough, very thought out, very balanced - even the craziest, the most incredible, the most adventurous. And in achieving the goal he is specific, collected and unshakable.
The popularity of the “Litsedeev” was deafening, national love took on a threatening scope and form.
1982 - “Mime Parade”, which brought together more than 800 pantomime artists from all over the then very vast homeland.
1985 - he brought foreign mimes and clowns to the festival as part of the World Meeting of Youth and Students.
In 1987, the first festival of street theaters “Litsedey-Lyceum” took place. The All-Union “Congress of Fools” is the solemn funeral of the “Litsedei” theater, because, as Stanislavsky argued, the theater is dying after 20 years of its existence.
1989 - the apotheosis in the matter of realizing the impracticable and realizing the unrealizable became, three months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the “Caravan of Peace”: a wandering theater festival, created by theaters from Russia, France, Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic, Poland, and traveled for six months in cars across Europe from Moscow to Paris. The artists lived in houses on wheels, played on the street and in the tent...
1993 - “Academy of Fools”, which in just a couple of years of its existence managed to address the problem of reviving the idea of a new, modern, rather than museum carnival. The “Academy of Fools” for the first time held a festival with the typically Russian name “Fool Women”, dedicated to the rarest phenomenon in nature of female clownery. The Guild of Old Fools, led by Rolan Bykov, went on rampage in Moscow in its own way, handing out the titles of “complete fools” and “half fools” to the best of the best, and gladly accepting great fools from abroad into its ranks.
It was them that Polunin gathered many years later for the Theater Olympics in Moscow as part of another program called “The Best Clowns of the Late 20th Century.” The best, the craziest and the wisest, really came to the capital: Boleslav Polivka, Jerome Deschamps, Franz Joseph Bogner, Django Edwards and Leo Bassi.
Oleg Popov (July 31, 1930) Lion Horse/Knight
Founding father of Soviet clownery. He created the artistic image of the “Sunny Clown” - a cheerful boy with a shock of light brown hair in deliberately wide striped pants and a checkered cap. In his performances he uses such techniques as tightrope walking, acrobatics, juggling, parodying circus acts, but the main place in his performances is occupied by entres, solved by means of buffoonery and eccentricities. Among the best reprises of Oleg Popov are “Cook”, “Whistle”, “Beam”. Participant in many television programs, often acted in films. He acted as a director of circus performances. He took part in the first tours of the Soviet circus in Western Europe. These trips brought him worldwide fame. Winner of the International Circus Festival in Warsaw, an Oscar (Brussels, 1958), in 1981 he won the Honorary Prize “Golden Clown” of the International Festival in Monte Carlo and many others.
Yuri Kuklachev (April 12, 1949) Aries Bull / Jester with
Soviet, Russian clown, People's Artist of Russia. He gained fame by being the first in the USSR to engage in circus work with cats. Creator and director of the Cat Theater.
Yuri Galtsev (April 12, 1961) Aries Bull / Jester
He made it onto our list solely because of his clown title. The first candidate to be eliminated from the selection.
Yuri Nikulin (December 18, 1921) Rooster-Sagittarius / Jester
Mikhail Nikolaevich Shuidin(September 27, 1922) Libra Dog / Professor
Outstanding Soviet clown, eccentric acrobat, Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1969 - Rooster). He began working together with Yu. Nikulin as a student assistant for the clown Karandash. After leaving Karandash, Nikulin and Shuidin created the clown duo Nikulin and Shuidin (from 1950 - Tiger) and worked together almost until the end of Mikhail Shuidin’s life in 1983. In ordinary life, however, as Yuri Nikulin himself admitted, Mikhail Shuidin and Yuri Nikulin did not maintain a special relationship - the big difference in their characters and lifestyle was reflected.
Mikhail Rumyantsev (Pencil) (December 10, 1901) Sagittarius Ox/Leader
Leonid Engibarov(March 15, 1935) Pig-Pisces/King
Clown duo Valery Serebryakov(9 June 1939) Gemini Cat/Jester
Stanislav Shchukin (June 14, 1939) Gemini Cat / Jester
The duet is not so much great as it is memorable due to our history.
Muslya (Alexey Sergeev) (February 16, 1915) Cat-Aquarius / Leader
Clown Muslya in the circus environment was considered the most talented, even brilliant clown. He had the gift of pantomime, almost without speaking a word in the arena. There was improvisation in his work. The audience was amazed and amused by the sheer naturalness and organic nature of his actions. Unfortunately, Alexey Sergeev turned out to be weak-willed, which did not allow him to become famous. Many circus figures noted that if it weren’t for this weak character and the clown Musli’s addiction to alcohol, he, the brilliant “clown from God,” would probably have become one of the most famous and best clowns in the world.
Marcel Marceau (March 22, 1923) Pig-Aries/Pisces/Jester/King
The greatest mime in the world. Founder of the School of Pantomime.
Due to the cut-off date in the statistics, other data other than the year are not included in the statistics.
Django Edwards (April 15, 1950) Tiger-Aries/Knight
Django Edwards is called the King of Fools of Amsterdam. “Classics” in his understanding are striptease, blasphemy and throwing eggs at the audience. One of the few people whom Slava Polunin considers his teacher. He dragged him to the USSR in 1986 (Tiger), running through all the city committees, district committees and Komsomol organizations. Backstage, Django asked Slava:
- Slava, you have a totalitarian country. What should I not do on stage?
- Do what you want - just don’t go on stage naked...
The “don’t throw me into the thorn bush” effect worked and Django Edwards never appeared in the Soviet Union again until its collapse. In the 70s he is the founder of the Festival of Fools in Amsterdam. “International Festival of Fools”. And in the 80s he founded a small theater in the Pigalle district of Paris.
Bolek Polivka (July 31, 1949) Leo Ox / Aristocrat
Jerome Deschamps (October 5, 1947) Pig-Libra / Vector
Leo Bassi (1952) Dragon
Nook the Clown (July 14, 1908) Cancer Monkey/Chief
Nook's trademark was a huge suitcase and a large checkered coat, which concealed various musical instruments. Nook was one of the few outstanding clowns of his time, rightfully considered the most famous musical clown of the 20th century. “The most gentle clown of all time” - this is how newspapers titled him already in 1962.
Grok (Charles Adrien Wettach), (January 10, 1880) Capricorn Dragon/Chief
Swiss clown.
Carl Borromäus Godlewski (20. November 1862) Scorpio Dog / Aristocrat
Circus clown, acrobat, choreographer, dance teacher and choreographer.
Louis Auriol (11. August 1806) Tiger-Lion / Knight
French clown. The son of the choreographer of the same name, trained by former tightrope walker Pierre Forioso, he started with Direction Ducrow with the famous bottle dance. Traveled with famous numbers all over Europe. He made his debut in Paris, where he impressed the audience with a horse racing act.
Olli Hauenstein (1953) Snake
Swiss clown.
Bernhard Paul (20. May 1947) Pig-Taurus / Knight
Austrian circus director, director, clown and co-founder of Circus Roncalli.
Pic, eigentlich Richard Hirzel, (* 1949) Bull
Swiss clown, contributed significantly to the early successes of Circus Roncalli.
Habakuk / Arminio Rothstein (25. Juli 1927), Leo Cat / Vector
Austrian academic artist, puppet maker and puppet theater actor, screenwriter and writer, musician...
Gardi Hutter, Altstätten (Saint-Gall), (5 mars 1953) Snake-Pisces / Aristocrat
Clown woman.
David Larible (23. Juni 1957) Rooster-Cancer / Vector
Italian clown.
Coluche (October 28, 1944) Scorpio Monkey/Jester
French comedian, actor and screenwriter.
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STATISTICS
Jester – 6
Leader – 4
Knight – 4
Aristocrat – 3
Vector – 3
King – 2
Professor – 1
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Bull – 5
Boar - 4
Cat – 4
Tiger – 3
Dragon – 2
Rooster – 2
Monkey – 2
Dog – 2
Snake – 2
Horse – 1
Goat – 0
Rat – 0
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Leo – 4
Gemini – 3
Aries – 3
Libra – 2
Sagittarius – 2
Fish – 2
Capricorn - 1
Cancer – 2
Aquarius – 1
Scorpio – 2
Taurus – 1
Virgo – 0
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Natural optimists / sanguine people – 10
Melancholic/skeptical – 8
Phlegmatic / cosmic optimists – 7
Cholerics/dramatizers – 2
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Closed - 11
Orthodox - 9
Open - 7
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sadists - 7
cooks - 8
gourmets - 5
masochists - 5
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takeoff - 9
ruthless – 9
grounded - 5
compassionate - 3
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lucky ones - 11
fatalists - 5
pioneers - 6
DIYers - 5
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As you can see, the Jester holds the championship laurels, of course. The energetic Leader is also close to the eccentric Knight. A clown is, first of all, an image; therefore, the correctly set role of the virtual image is extremely significant in his work.
Optimists of all stripes, from space to nature, hold first place at the top, allowing only one skeptic, the Cat, to join them. The Horse behaved very strangely. Apparently this barter with the Cat did its job: one pessimist up in exchange for one unbridled natural optimist down. So everything is as it should be, structurally and conceptually, purely concretely.
The talkative Professor turned out to be so superfluous in such a silent profession that he supplanted the King himself.
The fall of open signs with the complete leadership of closed ones is strangely explainable - clowning is not the lot of closed aesthetes and is the very example of openness, common people and the ability to find contact with absolutely any viewer. Although it should be noted that the clown is always a loner, this is a one-man show. And precisely this trait is the destiny of closeness.
The title of the most gentle clown for a gourmet: Cancer (Nuk).
Two masochists - acrobats, choreographers, dancers... that is, in that area of clownery where the profession is close to sports in terms of physical activity. Eginbarov (Pisces) stirs up numbers with plates..
Sadists: Kuklachev. Training, torturing cats, go here, rush here - they are just happy. Polunin (Gemini) - organizer of shows and cultural events. Either he drove everyone through the fields, then he forced them to chase a tram, then he made everyone live in tents in Europe... It is sadists who are good bosses, because they like to “twist ropes” out of people more than cooks, for example.
A circus without a clown is not a circus. On December 10, the birthday of the legendary Pencil, let us remember the seven most prominent representatives of the sunny profession, who created emotions and mood with their skill.
Mikhail Rumyantsev
The famous Soviet clown, Hero of Socialist Labor, People's Artist of the USSR was born in St. Petersburg back in 1901. At the age of 13, Misha entered the school of the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, but studied without interest. But he showed talent in drawing and from 1922 to 1926 he wrote posters for the city theater, posters for cinemas, and then a circus. On his next tour, Mikhail meets Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, who influenced future fate artist - future Pencil enters the school of circus arts, a class of eccentric acrobats. This is how the star's career began. Since 1928, Pencil began appearing in public in the image of Charlie Chaplin, and since 1936 he worked in the Moscow Circus. His speeches were distinguished by satire and dynamism, and the obligatory use of topics of current events. In total, Karandash worked in the circus for 55 years and entered the arena for the last time two weeks before his death.
Casimir Pluchs
A representative of the circus genre “White Clown”, who worked under the pseudonym Roland, was born on November 5, 1894 in the vicinity of the city of Dvinsk. Since 1910, Casimir became a member of the acrobatic troupe “Roman Gladiators”, and in 1922 he began performing in his favorite genre. Roland worked with such artists as Coco, Anatoly Dubino, Savely Krein, Evgeny Biryukov and together with comedian Eizhen. In 1955, he played his usual role of the “white clown” in the film “Behind the Store Window,” but was not listed in the credits. Two years after the release of the film, Kazimir Petrovich leaves the circus arena and devotes himself entirely to literary activity. The book "White Clown", written by Roland in 1963, became a manual for circus performers of the genre, in which Plutches was called the best of the best.
Rudolf Slavsky
Born on December 21, 1912 in Tsaritsyn (Stalingrad - Volgograd), the circus and stage artist, director and writer, according to the circus historian Yu. Dmitriev, became the founder of plot numbers in theater arts. It all started with the circus act “Equilibre on a Free Wire” - a lyrical and comedic skit “Date at the Yacht Club”. Rudolf, a man with a holiday profession, was a participant in the Great Patriotic War from its very beginning, and in 1945 he returned to artistic activity, taking up, among other things, directing and staging children's performances. In 1961-80 he was a director and teacher at the All-Union Creative Workshop of Maslyukov's Variety Art, and in 1950 he began writing. Slavsky is the author and compiler of the 2nd edition of the encyclopedia "Circus" (1979), one of the founders of the Academy of Circus Arts.
Leonid Engibarov
A sad jester, clown-philosopher and poet, Leonid Georgievich had a bright personality and created his own image. He graduated from the State School of Circus Arts and chose not the beaten path, but his own, very special one - a mixture of pantomime and poetic clowning. His reprises did not set as their main goal to squeeze as much laughter out of the viewer as possible, but forced him to think and reflect. Many spectators, accustomed to relaxing at the circus, were disappointed with what they saw, most colleagues advised him to change his phlegmatic role, the clown was adamant. Even Yuri Nikulin, who initially did not take the artist of the “new genre” seriously, admitted three years later: “... when I saw him in the arena of the Moscow Circus, I was delighted. He was amazing at pausing. Yengibarov, without uttering a word, spoke to the audience about love and hatred, about respect for a person, about the touching heart of a clown, about loneliness and vanity. And he did all this clearly, gently, unusually.”
Oleg Popov
“Sunny Clown” was born in 1930 and, like most of his comrades, graduated from the State School of Circus Arts, making his debut in the arena as a tightrope walker. Oleg Konstantinovich’s performances mixed different, but invariably positive genres: clowning, acrobatics, juggling, balancing act, buffoonery. Oleg Konstantinovich is a Knight of the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, a laureate of the International Circus Festival in Warsaw, and winner of the Golden Clown prize at the International Festival in Monte Carlo. Many of Popov's reprises became classics of the world circus ("Dream on a Wire", "Beam", etc.). They say that it is the constant search for the funny and touching in surrounding reality created a unique “sunny” role for Oleg Konstantinovich.
Leonid Kukso
One man band! Soviet, Russian circus performer, clown, playwright, director, poet, Honored Artist of Russia, author of five musical comedies, a significant number of songs, a collection of lyrical poems! Little Lenya was brought to the circus for the first time by his father, and the boy was amazed by the performance of the clowns. "Hello, Le-e-enya!" - one of them said to the whole hall, and instead of a removable “hat”, the clown was left with a disk with a brim in his hand, and a sparkling bald spot on his head. The future artist will carry these memories through the years. In 1937, Leonid Georgievich’s father was shot, his mother ended up in the camps, and Lenya himself worked in three shifts making boxes for mines and shells - the war began. In 1946, Kukso entered the circus with Karandash, where he met Nikulin, and subsequently they performed in many joint numbers - songs with a guitar, clowning, acrobatics, juggling! Kukso found his own style and even came up with a “battle cry” for his exit, and his performances, like the artist himself, were distinguished by mobility and eccentricity.
Yuri Nikulin
The artist, who made his film debut at the age of 36 and devoted assistant to the birthday boy Karandash, was a fan of circus art. The favorite comedian of several generations of viewers, Yuri Vladimirovich, was born in 1921 in the city of Demidov, later the family moved to Moscow. After graduating from school, Nikulin was drafted into the Red Army, participated in the Soviet-Finnish and Great Patriotic War, was awarded the medals “For Courage”, “For the Defense of Leningrad” and “For Victory over Germany”. It's funny that when trying to get into famous theater institutes and schools, Nikulin received refusals with the justification “Lack of acting talent.” How wrong the admissions committees were! Yuri entered the clownery studio at the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, and later remained to work there. Nikulin worked with Karandash for two and a half years, after which in 1950 the creative tandem fell apart due to a work conflict, and Nikulin and Shuidin created their own clown duet. In 1981, 60-year-old Yuri Vladimirovich moved to the administrative position of director of the circus, to whom he devoted 50 years of his life.
Pencil - Mikhail Rumyantsev
Mikhail Rumyantsev ( stage name- Karandash, 1901 - 1983) - an outstanding Soviet clown, one of the founders of the clownery genre in Russia. People's Artist of the USSR (1969).
In the 40-50s, Karandash began to attract assistants to his performances, among whom Yuri Nikulin stood out, as well as Mikhail Shuidin, who later formed a magnificent team
clown duet. The clown was so popular that only his performances guaranteed the circus financial success. Cheerful clown He devoted himself conscientiously to his work, but even outside the arena he demanded complete dedication from his assistants.
Pencil became the first Soviet clown, whose popularity spread far beyond the country's borders. He was known and loved in Finland, France, East Germany, Italy, England, Brazil, Uruguay and other countries.
Mikhail Nikolaevich Rumyantsev worked in the circus for 55 years. He last appeared in the arena just 2 weeks before his death.
Mikhail Nikolaevich Rumyantsev died on March 31, 1983.
Today, the Moscow State School of Circus and Variety Arts bears the name of Mikhail Nikolaevich Rumyantsev.
Yuri Nikulin
Yuri Nikulin (1921 - 1997) - Soviet circus performer, film actor. People's Artist of the USSR (1973), Laureate of the State Prize of the RSFSR (1970)
The main thing in creative individuality Nikulina has a devastating sense of humor while completely maintaining external equanimity. The suit was based on a funny contrast of short striped trousers and huge boots with a pseudo-elegant top - a black jacket, a white shirt, a tie and a boater hat.
A masterfully designed mask (behind the external rudeness and even some stupidity, wisdom and a gentle, vulnerable soul emerged) allowed Yuri Nikulin to work in the most difficult genre of clownery - lyrical-romantic reprises. In the arena he was always organic, naive and touching, and at the same time he knew how to make the audience laugh like no one else. In the clown image of Nikulin, the distance between the mask and the artist was amazingly maintained, and this gave the character greater depth and versatility.
After the death of Shuidin, Yuri Vladimirovich in 1982 headed the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard (now named after Nikulin), where he worked for a total of more than 50 years.
Sunny Clown - Oleg Popov
Oleg Popov is a Soviet clown and actor. People's Artist of the USSR (1969).
Known to the general public as the "Sunny Clown". This cheerful man with a shock of brown hair wore oversized trousers and a checkered cap. In his performances, the clown uses a variety of techniques - acrobatics, juggling, parody, balancing act. Special attention is given to the entre, which are realized with the help of eccentricities and buffoonery. Among Popov’s most famous reprises one can recall “Whistle”, “Beam” and “Cook”. In his most famous act, the clown tries to catch a ray of sunlight in his bag.
Popov made a huge contribution to the global development of new principles of clowning, developed earlier by Karandash - clowning that comes from life, from everyday life, looking for what is funny and touching in the surrounding reality.
In 1991, Popov left Russia for personal reasons, and also unable to accept the collapse of the great Motherland. Now he lives and works in Germany, performing under the pseudonym Happy Hans.
Casimir Pluchs
Kazimir Petrovich Pluchs (November 5, 1894 - February 15, 1975) - circus performer, white clown, pseudonym "Roland". Honored Artist of the Latvian SSR (1954).
A representative of the circus genre “White Clown”, who worked under the pseudonym Roland, was born on November 5, 1894 in the vicinity of the city of Dvinsk. Since 1910, Casimir became a member of the acrobatic troupe “Roman Gladiators”, and in 1922 he began performing in his favorite genre. Roland worked with such artists as Coco, Anatoly Dubino, Savely Krein, Evgeny Biryukov and together with comedian Eizhen. In 1955, he played his usual role of the “white clown” in the film “Behind the Store Window,” but was not listed in the credits. Two years after the release of the film, Kazimir Petrovich leaves the circus arena and devotes himself entirely to literary activities. The book "White Clown", written by Roland in 1963, became a manual for circus performers of the genre, in which Plutches was called the best of the best.
Konstantin Berman
Konstantin Berman (1914-2000).
During the war, Berman performed as part of front-line brigades in the Bryansk-Oryol direction of the front. The simple reprise “Dog-Hitler” brought him fame. It told how a clown was embarrassed to call a dog barking at everyone Hitler, because it might be offended. This simple reprise at the front was invariably greeted with friendly soldiers’ laughter.
In 1956, Berman became an Honored Artist of the RSFSR.
Berman was a fairly versatile clown, including other acts. He jumped over cars like an acrobat and took part in aerial flights. Bergman toured the country a lot, Iran applauded him.
Leonid Engibarov
Leonid Engibarov (1935 – 1972) – circus actor, mime clown. Possessing a unique personality, Leonid Engibarov created a unique image of a sad jester-philosopher and poet. His reprises did not set as their main goal to squeeze as much laughter out of the viewer as possible, but forced him to think and reflect.
The famous clown at the peak of his fame leaves the circus and creates his own theater. Engibarov, together with his constant director Yuri Belov, is staging the play “The Whims of the Clown.” During its 240-day national tour in 1971-1972, this performance was shown 210 times.
The great clown died on July 25, 1972 in a hot summer from a broken heart. When he was buried, it suddenly began to rain in Moscow. It seemed that the sky itself was mourning the loss of the sad clown. Engibarov went down in circus history as a representative of the philosophical clown pantomime.
Yuri Kuklachev
Yuri Kuklachev is the director and founder of the Cat Theater, People's Artist of the RSFSR.
He gained fame by being the first in the USSR to engage in circus work with cats. Creator and director of the Cat Theater (“Cat House”, since 1990). In 2005, the Kuklachev Cat Theater received the status State Theater cats in Moscow. Currently, more than 10 performances have been created in the world's only Cat Theater. In addition to Yuri Kuklachev, his sons, Dmitry Kuklachev and Vladimir Kuklachev, perform at the Cat Theater. Dmitry Kuklachev's performances are distinguished by the fact that all the tricks with cats in them are performed within a clear end-to-end plot. Yuri Kuklachev is the founder of the educational project “International Association of the School of Kindness”. In addition to performances with cats, Yuri Kuklachev regularly conducts “Kindness Lessons” in schools, children's institutions and even in children's colonies in different cities of Russia.
Clowns have been present in our culture for quite some time. One can recall at least related jesters who were at court and entertained the nobility. The word “clown” itself appeared at the beginning of the 16th century. This was originally the name given to a comic character from English medieval theater. This hero improvised a lot, and his jokes were simple and even rude.
Today a clown is a circus or variety artist, using buffoonery and grotesque. This profession is not as simple as it seems. In addition, clowns work in various genres; no self-respecting circus can do without such people. Who else will make the audience laugh between numbers?
It’s interesting that in America the image of a clown is surprisingly scary. This is due to numerous works where this image is presented as bloodthirsty and cruel (just remember the Joker). Even such a mental illness as clownphobia has appeared. When talking about modern clownery, one cannot fail to mention the name of Charlie Chaplin. This comedian served as an inspiration for actors in this genre, his image was copied and reused.
It must be said that the most outstanding clowns realized themselves far beyond the circus, in cinema and theater, while also performing tragic repertoire. About the most famous people This funny, not difficult profession will be discussed below.
Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837). This English actor is considered the father of modern clowning. It is believed that it was he who became the first clown with a European face. Thanks to Grimaldi, the comic character became the central figure of the English harlequinade. Joseph's father, an Italian, was himself a pantonymist, artist and choreographer in the theater. And my mother performed in the corps de ballet. Since the age of two, the boy has been performing on the theater stage. Failures in his personal life turned the young Grimaldi’s attention to work. His fame was brought to him by the production of The Tales of Mother Goose at the Royal Theatre. The actor became a clear innovator, because his character, Joy the Clown, is similar to modern images. The clown appeared central character in his performances, he came up with buffoonery and visual tricks, invariably making the audience laugh. The image of a simpleton and a fool dates back to the times of commedia dell'arte. Grimaldi brought female pantomime to the theater and established the tradition of audience participation in the performances. Playing on stage undermined the clown's health, effectively making him crippled. At 50, Grimaldi was broke and lived on a pension and assistance from charity performances in his honor. When he died, the newspapers wrote with bitterness that the spirit of pantomime was now lost, because there was simply no equal to the clown in terms of talent.
Jean-Baptiste Auriol (1806-1881). IN early XIX century there was no such image of a clown yet. In the arena, comic equestrian acrobats joked, there was a mime rider and a clown. This state of affairs changed when the figure of Jean-Baptiste Auriol appeared in the French circus. As a child, he was sent to be trained by a family of rope dancers. Soon Jean-Baptiste became an independent artist in a run-of-the-mill traveling circus. The artist's career quickly took off; the acrobat rider with comic talents was noticed. In the early 1830s he was invited to join the Luasse troupe. With her, Oriol began traveling around Europe. The next step was the Paris Olympic Theater-Circus. The debut took place on July 1, 1834. Jean-Baptiste showed himself to be a versatile master - he is a tightrope walker, a juggler and a strongman. Moreover, he was also a grotesque actor. A strong and powerful body was crowned with a cheerful face, whose grimaces made the audience laugh. The clown wore a special costume, which was a modernized outfit of a medieval jester. But Oriol did not have makeup, he only used general primer. Essentially, the work of this clown can be considered carpet-bending. He filled the pauses between performances and parodied the main repertoire. It was Oriol who shaped the image of the clown, gave it light French humor and brought romanticism to the circus. In his old age, Oriol began to play in comic scenes, participating in pantomimes.
Grock (1880-1959). The real name of this Swiss is Charles Adrien Wettach. His family was an ordinary peasant family, but his father was able to instill in his son a love of the circus. Charles's talent was noticed by the clown Alfredo, who invited the young guy to join the traveling circus troupe. Having gained experience in it, Charles left his partners and went to France. By that time, the clown had learned to play several musical instruments, knew how to juggle, and was an acrobat and tightrope walker. Only at the Swiss National Circus in the city of Nimes, the young artist only achieved work as a cashier. Charles was able to make friends with the musical eccentric Brick, eventually replacing his partner Brock. The new clown chose the pseudonym Grok. The artist's debut at the Swiss National Circus took place on October 1, 1903. The troupe toured a lot. With her, Grok visited Spain, Belgium and even South America. In 1911, the clown suffered a fiasco in Berlin, but the tour in Austria-Hungary and Germany in 1913 was much more successful. Grok became known as the King of the Clowns. Touring Russia also turned out to be a triumph. After the end of the war, Grok resumed performing again, touring even in America. In the early 30s, the clown even made a film about himself, which was not successful. After the end of World War II, the artist released two more films with his best performances, and in 1951 he even opened his own circus “Grok”. The famous clown's last appearance in the arena took place in 1954. A mask is named after Grok, which is awarded as a prize at the European International Circus Clown Festival.
Mikhail Rumyantsev (1901-1983). Clown Pencil is a classic of the Soviet circus. Mikhail's introduction to art began in art schools, but the training did not arouse any interest. The future artist’s working career began with drawing posters for the theater. In 1925, Rumyantsev moved to Moscow, where he began to draw movie posters. Fateful for young artist It was 1926 when he saw Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks next to him. Like them, Rumyantsev decided to become an actor. After the stage movement courses there was a school of circus arts. From 1928 to 1932, the clown appeared in public in the image of Charlie Chaplin. Since 1935, Rumyantsev began to use his new image Karan d'Asha. In 1936, the clown worked in the Moscow circus; the final point in the formation of his new image was a small Scotch terrier. The clown's performances were dynamic, filled with satire on the most acute problems in society. Coming on tour to new city, the artist tried to insert the name of some local popular place into his speech. In the 40-50s, Karandash began to attract assistants to his performances, among whom Yuri Nikulin stood out. The clown was so popular that only his performances guaranteed financial success for the circus. The cheerful clown devoted himself conscientiously to his work, but even outside the arena he demanded complete dedication from his assistants. Pencil's career in the circus spans 55 years. He last appeared in the arena just 2 weeks before his death. The artist’s work has been awarded numerous awards; he was a Hero of Socialist Labor, People’s Artist of Russia and the USSR.
Nook (1908-1998). The German Georg Spillner became known to the whole world under this pseudonym. When he began his working career as a dentist in 1932, no one expected such a sharp turn in his fate. But Georg soon abandoned this work, becoming a musical clown. Already in 1937, the Deutsches Theater in Munich announced him as the most famous clown Europe. The artist’s “trick” was his large suitcase and huge coat, which concealed a variety of musical instruments. Nuk performed at the most famous concert venues in Europe, but despite his fame he remained a rather modest person. The clown was very musical, playing the saxophone, mandolin, flute, clarinet, violin, and harmonica. In the 60s they wrote about him as the most gentle clown of all time. Nuk was often compared to another legend, Grok, but the German had his own unique image. They say that one day a certain clown wanted to buy one of his numbers for Nuka, but he refused. After all, his image is all of life, with its experience, feelings, success and slaps. For many years, his wife, who played the piano, appeared on stage with Georg. In 1991, Germany awarded him the Cross of Merit for his charitable work towards his former colleagues. Nuk himself said that there is a stereotype in society according to which a clown should be a sad person in life, but constantly joke on stage. But such an image has nothing in common with himself. The clown wrote that to obtain such a profession it is not necessary to study, but hard work is necessary. The artist's secret was simple - everything that was in his performance was experienced personally by Georg.
Konstantin Bergman (1914-2000). This Soviet carpet clown appeared in the family of a circus orchestra conductor. It is not surprising that the boy was constantly attracted to the arena. Since childhood, he participated in pantomimes, mastering other genres of circus art. His professional career as a clown began at the age of 14; with his brother Nikolai, he staged the act “Vaulting Acrobats.” Until 1936, the couple performed together, using the images of popular comedy film actors H. Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin. During the war, Bergman performed as part of front-line brigades. The simple reprise “Dog Hitler” brought him fame. It told how a clown was embarrassed to call a dog barking at everyone Hitler, because it might be offended. In 1956, Bergman became an Honored Artist of the RSFSR. The clown was able to create the mask of an important dandy, wearing an absurdly smart suit. The circus performer switched to conversational reprises, talking not only about everyday topics, but even about politics. Bergman was quite a versatile clown, including other acts. He jumped over cars like an acrobat and took part in aerial flights. Bergman toured the country a lot, Iran applauded him. The famous clown starred in two films; in “Girl on a Ball” he essentially played himself.
Leonid Engibarov (1935-1972). Despite his short life, this man managed to leave a bright mark on art. Mim managed to create a new role - a sad clown, and besides, Engibarov was also a talented writer. Leonid loved fairy tales since childhood and puppet theater. At school, he began boxing and even entered the Institute of Physical Education, but quickly realized that this was not his calling. In 1955, Engibarov entered the Circus School, where he began to study clownery. While still a student, Leonid began performing on stage as a mime. A full-fledged debut took place in 1959 in Novosibirsk. By 1961, Engibarov had traveled to many Soviet cities and was a resounding success everywhere. At the same time, a trip abroad took place, to Poland, where the clown was also applauded by grateful spectators. In 1964 at International festival In Prague, Engibarov was recognized as the best clown in the world, and his short stories began to be published. Filming about a talented artist documentaries, he himself is involved in cinema, collaborating with Parajanov and Shukshin. The famous clown at the peak of his fame leaves the circus and creates his own theater. Engibarov, together with his constant director Yuri Belov, is staging the play “The Whims of the Clown.” During its 240-day national tour in 1971-1972, this performance was shown 210 times. The great clown died in a hot summer from a broken heart. When he was buried, it suddenly began to rain in Moscow. It seemed that the sky itself was mourning the loss of the sad clown. Engibarov went down in circus history as a representative of the philosophical clown pantomime.
Yuri Nikulin (1921-1997). Most people know Nikulin as a brilliant film actor. But his calling was the circus. The father and mother of the future clown were actors, which must have predetermined Nikulin’s fate. He went through the entire war, receiving military awards. After the end of hostilities, Nikulin tried to enter VGIK and other theater institutes. But he was not accepted anywhere because of his acting talents. admissions committees see in young man they couldn't. As a result, Nikulin entered the clownery studio at the Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. The young actor began assisting Karandash together with Mikhail Shuidin. The couple went on tour a lot and quickly gained experience. Since 1950, Nikulin and Shuidin began to work independently. Their collaboration lasted until 1981. If Shuidin had the image of a shirtless guy who knows everything, then Nikulin portrayed a lazy and melancholic person. In life, the partners in the arena practically did not maintain relationships. Since 1981, Nikulin became the main director of his native circus, and from the next year he became the director. One cannot ignore the participation of the famous clown in the movie. The debut on the big screen took place in 1958. The comedies of Gaidai (“Operation “Y” and other adventures of Shurik”, “Prisoner of the Caucasus”, “The Diamond Arm”) brought popular love to Nikulin as an actor. However, he also has many serious films behind him - “Andrei Rublev”, “They Fought for the Motherland”, “Scarecrow”. The talented clone proved himself to be a serious and profound dramatic actor. Yuri Nikulin received the title People's Artist USSR and Hero of Socialist Labor. Near the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard there is a monument to the famous clown and his partner.
Marcel Marceau (1923-2007). This French mime actor created a whole school of his art. He was born into a Jewish family in Strasbourg. Marcel developed an interest in acting after meeting Charlie Chaplin's films. Marceau studied at the School decorative arts in Limoges, then at the Sarah Bernhardt Theater, where Etienne Decroux taught him the art of mimicry. During World War II, an aspiring clown fled the country. He took part in the Resistance, and most of his relatives, including his parents, died in Auschwitz. In 1947, Marceau created his most famous image. Beep the Clown, with a white face, a striped sweater and a tattered hat, became famous throughout the world. At the same time, the clown troupe “Commonwealth of Mimes” was created, which existed for 13 years. The productions of this unusual theater with one-man performances have seen the best stages in the country. In subsequent years, Marceau performed independently. He toured the Soviet Union several times, the first time this happened in 1961. In one of the scenes, sad Bip, sitting at the table, listened to his interlocutors. Turning to one, the clown made a cheerful expression on his face, and to the other, a sad one. The lines alternated and gradually became faster, forcing the clown to constantly change his mood. Only Marceau could do this. The miniatures featuring Bip are generally filled with sympathy for the poor fellow. In 1978, the clown created his own Paris School of Pantomime. New miniatures and new heroes appeared in his arsenal. They say that it was Marcel Marceau who taught him the famous moonwalk. For his contribution to art, the actor received France's highest award - the Legion of Honor.
Oleg Popov (born 1930). Famous artist called the founding father of Soviet clownery. In 1944, while doing acrobatics, the young man met students at a circus school. Oleg was so fascinated by the circus that he immediately entered the school, receiving a specialty in eccentric on a wire in 1950. But already in 1951 Popov made his debut as a carpet clown. The artist was able to create the artistic image of the “Sunny Clown”. This cheerful man with a shock of brown hair wore oversized trousers and a checkered cap. In his performances, the clown uses a variety of techniques - acrobatics, juggling, parody, balancing act. Particular attention is paid to entres, which are realized with the help of eccentricities and buffoonery. Among Popov’s most famous reprises one can recall “Whistle”, “Beam” and “Cook”. In his most famous act, the clown tries to catch a ray of sunlight in his bag. The artist’s creativity was not limited to the theater alone; he acted a lot on television and participated in the children’s television show “Alarm Clock.” Popov even acted in films (more than 10 films) and directed circus performances. The famous clown took part in the first tours of the Soviet circus in Western Europe. Performances there brought Popov truly worldwide fame. The clown became a laureate of the International Circus Festival in Warsaw, received an Oscar in Brussels, and received the Golden Clown prize at the festival in Monte Carlo. In 1991, Popov left Russia for personal reasons, and also unable to accept the collapse of the great Motherland. Now he lives and works in Germany, performing under the pseudonym Happy Hans.
Slava Polunin (born 1950). Polunin was educated at the Leningrad State Institute of Culture, and then at the variety department of GITIS. In the 1980s, Vyacheslav created famous theater"Actors." He literally blew the audience away with the numbers “Asisyai”, “Nizzya” and “Blue Canary”. The theater became very popular. In 1982, Polunin organized the Mime Parade, which attracted more than 800 pantomime artists from all over the country. In 1985, as part of the World Meeting of Youth and Students, a festival was held, in which international clowns also took part. Since then, Polunin has organized many festivals, staged performances, numbers and reprises, trying on a variety of masks. Since 1988, the clown has moved abroad, where he receives worldwide fame. His “Snow Show” is now considered a theatrical classic. Spectators say that Polunin’s snow warms their hearts. The clown's works were awarded the Laurence Olivier Award in England, awards in Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Barcelona. Polunin is an honorary resident of London. The Western press calls him “the best clown in the world.” Despite the “frivolous” occupation, the clown approaches his work thoroughly. Even the craziest and most adventurous show performed by him is actually carefully thought out and balanced. Polunin works a lot and does not know how to rest at all, however, his life is a pleasure, on stage and off it. And most importantly, this person creates a holiday.