I have many clown friends who play fast and loose with their text. But, clown is not the same as stand-up comedy. I’m not a mime, but I prefer to be silent, or at least not say very much as a clown in front of an audience.
This might be due to my journalism studies. Be careful which words you choose and all that.
I have my reasons to be afraid to let just any old thing come out of my mouth.
When I was in journalism school we had a textbook case, in one of our actual ethics textbooks, about an event that I clearly remembered as part of my freshman year in high school. A big city newspaper’s slice-of-life-on-the streets gritty feature story about a murder victim was reprinted in the victim’s hometown paper. Her father taught at my school.
Now, friends of mine are involved with a production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Mikado with updated improvisations referencing current political figures that have drawn national attention to the theatre company and not in a good way.
Yikes!
I prefer not to speak as a clown because it makes it harder, and forces me to do everything physically. I started as an actor, and I’m pretty facile in the wit department, but forcing everything through the body makes my performances as a clown more physical.
Not to compare myself to Samuel Beckett (but if I were, I’d remind everybody that he is dead, and I am not. I win! :O)) but he used to write everything in French first, because it made him think twice about everything he wanted to say.
I feel for my Bigfork Summer Playhouse compatriot, Curt Olds. But, he’s a grownup. This controversy will pass.