TYPES OF CLOWNS

TYPES OF CLOWNS

1. European Whiteface

   • An elegant clown, artistic, colourful, bright and cheery. Its performance is highly artistic and skillfull, but down with a comedic or dramatic flair.
   • All exposed flesh is covered with white makeup. Minimal lining colours and/or glitter will be used to express the features of the eyes nose and mouth. A white skull cap could be worn instead of a coloured wig. This clown does not wear a comedy nose, false eyelashes or ears.
   • It is outfitted with the traditional one or two piece jumpsuit of white or coloured material to fit the character. The styles may vary but are generally roomy and well fitted and may have a detachable collar. Buttons, pompoms, piping and ruffles are of a contrasting colour. The hat should fit the clown's character/ personality. Gloves cover hands or coloured and ballet or dancing slip[ers would be worn instead of large comedic shoes.

2. Whiteface Types

   • Straight whiteface who is in charge, setting up routine, throwing rather than taking the pie, slap or kick.
     • Grotesque Whiteface, or comedic whiteface is more comical than the straight whiteface. Still in charge when performing with Auguste.

3. Auguste Clowns

   • Most comical of all clowns. He/she is impish and thrives on slapstick. Actions are big, clumsy and awkward. Not much in common with Whiteface except for makeup and costume. Personality is manipulative and clumsy also. Always the brunt of the joke. When with the tramp or hobo he gains higher authority.
   • Highly colourful makeup with a base colour of a flesh tone. White around eyes and mouth to accentuate mouth shape and create a wide eyed look. A lot of black eyelining around eyes and mouth to bring them out. Wig worn optionally.

4. Tramp/Hobo

   • Sad tramp: A clown that has nothing and knows that it will never have anything. Usually trying to find means of survival for a suffering family at home - or else a widow. By nature he is a loner - reflected by his determination to be silent. Doesn't talk to anybody except his peers. Downcast mannerisms and shffling movements show his hard life.
   • Happy Hobo: This clown is elegant and happy. It is the businessman, scholar or playboy who left his life and career for a life of adventure and travel. May have some personality inspiration from the Auguste. Walks with a bounce, is outgoing and speaks to everyone.
   • Derives from the Great Depression in the 1930's when men rode the rails looking for work - makeup comes from the black soot. Regardless of hobo/tramp type they are at the bottom of the clown authority ladder and are always on the recieving end of the pie, slap or kick from the Whiteface or Auguste. Both variations of tramps are judged together.
   • The makeup represents the soot deposited on the face from the coal and wood burning trains their originators rode. The eye and mouth areas were wiped clean of soot in order to see and eat. White makeup is used to accentuate this. A ruddy nose is used. A little red in the cheeks helps to create a sunburned look. The difference between the types of trampp is depicted by the shape of the eyebrowns and mouth, either up or down to reflect happy or sad.
   • Costume includes a dark suit, tuxedo, tail or just a shirt and pants made to look old and worn for the male, and an old worn out dress and/or coat for the female. These cold be well patched with rags or other materials with uneven stitching or even held together with whatever available. A dark battered hat, tattered shoes, worn shirt, tie and socks will exaggerate the character. GLoves are generally old and worn. No watches rings or new belts would be worn.