All of the clowns met up at the church this morning to get ready to visit the parks.
Local kids arrived to have their faces painted – which was great to have all of the water based paints that were donated. A couple local kids, who had not clowned before, went with us and I gave them the task of blowing bubbles and inviting people to see the show.
It was fun to watch the clowns as they have grown so much as performers since last year. The kids were responsive, laughing, and at one moment, when we thought we had started losing them, Vlad Dinca started a new magic trick that all of the kids truly enjoyed. Another clown misunderstood when I stated that we were getting ready for the skit “Jesus Fills the Hole in my Heart” and yanked Vlad off the stage. Which still worked because the kids were still engaged to watch the serious skit.
Several adults went with us as well and came back exclaiming that the handed out more New Testaments than they can usually distribute. Many people’s hearts melted with the clowns and were able and willing to listen with the joy and love of God being shown to them.
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After taking a couple hour break (and a chance for me to take some allergy medicine as all of the grass in the park was killing me), we met at the church and left for “Round Two.”
Our first performance was not a large crowd but the kids were participating more. For instance, there is a “Haircut Skit” where 2 clowns attempt to help a friend (usually played by me) by cutting my hair. Only they accidentally cut off all of my hair (or pull the wig off) which I am still unable to see because I wear a bag over my head with a hole cut out of the top during the skit. The crowd all gasps, thinking it’s a mistake. Until the clowns all begin to throw the wig around trying to pass blame before handing me a mirror and enabling me to see that I am now bald. Which, again, made all of the kids laugh.
Additionally, this time I had DeMaris play a sillier role in the serious skit. I had typecasted her for more serious parts but she got so into her role that I laughed. I have seen the “Jesus Fills the Hole in my Heart” for over 20 years and few things make me laugh with that skit anymore. She was given some birthday party horns and told that we was supposed to represent partying or distraction. She ran around the crowd, she blew the horn in other clowns’ ears, she was absolutely hilarious. Afterwards, she shyly handed me back the horns and asked me if it was okay. I exclaimed that it was the best I had ever seen and she had made me laugh so much during that skit. So, she had to play that part during the next show as well.
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On the way from the first show to the second, we would call to the kids and families to come to the 2nd clown show. By the time we started there was a huge group of kids to watch the clown show. It was amazing and I think our best show so far this trip.
On the way back to the cars, I noticed 3 adorable women sitting on a bench. One of them excitedly started fiddling with her phone trying to get to the camera. Asked if she would like a picture “Posa?” and she exclaimed “Da!” So, I ran around the bench where they were sitting and took a picture with them. They began to ask what was going on and we explained we had just finished a couple performances. They were sad to have missed it but we explained that we think we will be back again later this week in the evening.
