Photo: John Tlumacki/Globe Staff.
Pencilito the Clown, aka Luis Myorga from Guatemala (right), leads a group of clowns as they romp around the lobby at Boston’s Revere Hotel.
Today’s story about a clown convention has made me think how many different roles clowns have served through the ages. There have been court jesters who entertained kings by making them laugh or knocking them down a peg with impunity. There have been clowns that served religious purposes. In fact, I have a brother who worked as a clown at his church for many years.
From an early March Boston Globe feature by Claire Thornton we learn that professional clowns from around the world recently “gathered for the World Clown Association’s annual convention, dubbed the ‘greatest clown confab on Earth.’
“More than 150 professional clowns converged Wednesday at the Revere Hotel on Stuart Street, where they attended workshops on everything from balloon art to puppeteering to make-up application. While the lectures were invariably interrupted by the sounds of clucking rubber chickens, honking horns, and guffaws, the gathering was no laughing matter.
“The five-day convention, which continues through Friday, has drawn attendees from around New England and the world. Renowned instructors and performers, including former Ringling Bros. circus clowns, have put the focus on traditional comedic and circus clowning.
“ ‘Our goal is to put smiles on people’s faces,’ said 79-year-old incoming WCA president Louise Carnesale, a former New York state government administrator who performs as ‘Lulu the Clown’ in Alabama and Florida.
“Though some circuses have struggled in recent years (Ringling Bros. folded up its tent in 2017 before restarting in 2023), groups like the WCA continue to find new avenues for clowning, attendees said. But whether they work under a big top or not, conference attendees said they remain inspired by clowning greats like Charlie Chaplin, not to mention memorable characters from The Carol Burnett Show and elsewhere back in the 1970s.
“Many attendees had backgrounds in nursing, social work, or the military. Their prior jobs, which often required tackling tough issues in staid professional settings, led them to clowning, because the craft allows them to spread joy, they said.
“ ‘I really found a need for it,’ said Carnesale, who was working at the Twin Towers in New York when the Sept. 11 terror attacks happened in 2001. …
“During the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Carnesale focused on performing for families who were struggling while separated from loved ones. …
“Not all clowns are beloved, of course. Pennywise, the terrifying killer clown in Stephen King’s It, Twisty from American Horror Story … have left more than one viewer with a paralyzing fear of clowns. (There’s even a name for the condition: Coulrophobia.)
“But people’s negative feelings don’t stem from traditional, comedic clowning, which takes place at parades and in hospital settings where patients benefit from the humor, said Bridgit Bruce, of New Bedford. … Bruce attended her first WCA conference this week, arriving via commuter rail in full costume, including oversized shoes. …
“Bruce was inspired to attend the convention after taking a clowning course with Elaine ‘Daisy D. Dots’ Vercellone, who has performed in a Disney World parade and studied with New York City’s Big Apple Circus clowns.
“Vercellone grew up writing and performing marionette shows for her family and at school.
“In 1987, when her 6-year-old son was undergoing monthslong treatment for leukemia, he asked his mom to dress up as a clown for the hospital’s Halloween party. After buying her first clown costume from Sears for $20, she’s been clowning, and teaching others, ever since, she said.
“ ‘It’s really important to me, not only for the kid patients, but for the families,’ Vercellone said. ‘You take their mind off the hospital for a few minutes.’ …
“Attendees described their role as roving theatrical performers, and said they thrive on connecting with impromptu audiences and seeing people’s reactions to skits. …
“Competitors traveled from as far away as Malaysia, Japan, Guatemala, and Mexico, according to Carnesale.
“In the Boston-area clown community, many professionals perform for patients at Shriners Children’s hospital, and their nonprofit clowning group is a hub for teaching, said 55-year-old Jami Schultz. Professional clowns go through background checks and other safety precautions before performing for children, she said.
“ ‘Charity clowning, you’re not doing it to make money, you’re just doing it for the love of the kids,’ said Schultz, who lives in Natick and works in wealth management.”
More at the Globe, here, with photos that will make you smile.
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