世界クラウン大会（World Clown Convention)が今年はボストンでありました。スケジュールを見ると３月２日から６日まで。詳しくは分かりませんがクラウンについて色々なことを勉強したり、それぞれの分野で競技したり、プロのクラウンのショーも観られたり。参加者はホテルに泊って、朝から晩までメニューがぎっしりです。（好きなものに参加すればよいらしいですが）
クラウンにも色々あって、ステージで観せるクラウンのほかに、ホスピタルクラウン、子供向け、高齢者向け、誕生日会に呼ばれたりするのでしょうか科学実験をするクラウン？またバルーン遊び、パペット、ウクレレ、腹話術、機知に富んだマジックの技法、クラウンメイク、マイム、コメディの技法,etc.日本でもロネとジージが５月末に木曽で数日間開催するウィスコンシン大学クラウンキャンプ公認・クラウンキャンプジャパンのようなものかなと思いました。因みに、ロネとジージもかつてこの大会で審査員を勤めたと言っていたので、ショーにも出ていたのでしょう。
私は５日夜のプロのクラウンのショーを観に行きました。会場に入るなり、一般の人の中に様々なクラウンメイクや衣装をつけた男女が沢山席に座っていて、華やかなその人たちのすぐそばにいるだけで異次元に来た気分。それに観客の反応がとてもよく、ステージでボランティアを呼びかけると、かなりの人が一斉に手を上げていました。ステージが盛り上がらないはずがありません。Hilary Caplainという女性がメインゲストクラウンで一体いくつ役を観せてくれたでしょうか。まさに体を張ってクラウンを演じていました。日本からKという男性クラウンもバルーンとジャグリングと大きな脚立のバランスで観客を沸かせていました。
クラウンショーはやっぱり楽しいです。屈託なく笑えます。日本にも我らが誇るロネとジージがいます。３月２８日（土）２９日（日）は新百合ヶ丘のアルテリオ小劇場で２年に一度のロネとジージのお弟子さんたちのショーがあり、後半はロネジジのBeyond the Wavesの劇場公演が観られます。見応えのある二段構えのショーです。もちろん私もチケットを買いました。関東の方、春真っ盛りの週末をクラウンショーで楽しんでみませんか？https://roneandgigi.com/comedyartfes2026/11187/
2026 World Clown Convention was held in Boston. It's from March 2nd to 6th, and the schedule is packed with many things to learn about Clown, competitions and performance by the professional clowns. Participants stay in the hotel of the event and are busy keeping up their schedule from the morning until night. (Although it seems they can choose their favorite subjects.)
There are several kinds of clowns who show their skills on the stage, visit hospitals for the patients, perform for kids, or visit nursing homes, and show the science experiments before children, maybe on their birthday? Clown does balloon games, puppet, ukulele, ventriloquism, magic and comedy wit, clown make-up, mime, comedy techniques, etc.. By the way, I heard from Rone that Rone & Gigi were the judges of this contest before, so I guess they did a performance on the stage before, too.
I went to watch a professional clowns show on the night of March 5th with my daughter. When we entered the hall, I saw many clowns in different clown make-up with colorful costumes sitting on the chairs among the ordinary audience. Just by sitting near them, I felt like I was in another world. The reaction on the stage was very good and when the clown on the stage asked the audience to volunteer, many people raised their hand instantly which was amazing and made me surprised because if it happens in Japan, no hands are raised or very few people do. It was obvious that the national character between the US and Japan was very different. In the US, there was no way their performance wouldn't be exciting. Female clown, Hilary Chaplain, was the main guest performer and she was amazing. She performed seven or eight different clown characters. She gave all her energy and talents on stage. Clown K, a male clown from Japan also performed on the stage. He did balloon juggling and balance using a big step ladder which surprised us.
In the end, the Clown Show was so much fun. We can laugh without hesitation. There is duo clown, RONE & Gigi whom I am very proud of. They will have shows on Sat March 28, and Sun March 29 at Kawasaki Art Center. Clown students of Rone & Gigi will be on the stage in the first half, and Rone & Gigi will perform "Beyond the ship" in the second half. It's worth watching. I am going with my friend and looking forward to it. Won't you enjoy their clown show in the weekend when Spring is in full swing?
