SMILE AND THE WORLD SMILES WITH YOU

CLOWNING AROUND

Razak and Naruto bringing cheer to the shoppers

I remain just one thing, and one thing only, and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician. ~CharlieChaplain~ All the world loves a clown. A clown's makeup and character, that's all he has to sell. He loves and believes in that character. I was doing some grocery shopping at Kipmart Tampoi when I heard children shriek with laughter in great joy. My sharp ears pulled me to a stage in the middle of the building. Instantaneously, I knew what had caused the commotion and the wolf whistling. Two clowns were entertaining the shoppers with their balloon craft, monkey faces and Chaplain-like antics. I wasted no time in cornering endearing Razak and Naruto into taking photos with them. They are involved in organising events and also manage Animax performances which include Naruto, X Man and Sailormoon. The guys also provide MC and DJ services besides cooking demo and planning for weddings. Beneath the guys' one-inch thick make-up, lies two men who believe in the art of entertaining and making others laugh with them. People may think that the clown is often a deadpan person, but he is actually a connoisseur of laughter. Like a magician, he conjures mirth and invokes gaiety and fun-filled moments to his audience. I haven't seen a clown who has made someone cry. Have you? But people have asked to send in the clowns in their lowest dipped point. Frank Sinatra and Barbara Streisand have sung 'Send In The Clowns' to ease the pain of losing someone. I remember a line from Groucho Mark which says, "Clowns work as well as aspirin, but twice as fast." I guess that's why we love and welcome the clowns to be around us. They take our pain, misery and problems momentarily and hide them with their big smiles. Probably some anguish and affliction go into their pair of prodigious shoes too. When the clowns are gone and the smile fade away, the ache and malaise are bestowed back to the rightful owners. Dark humour? Wonder to whom does the clowns pass their pain and tumultuous feelings to? To truly laugh with the world, you must be able to take your pain and play with it. Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone. Being a clown is not an easy pursuit then! You are confronted with your own feelings all the time and may struggle on how to subdue or shun them away in front of people whom you have to bring cheer to. I love what Lord Tennyson has penned, "By blood a king, in heart a clown." Thanks Razak and Naruto for the short respite with us. They also presented mum with a blue teddy bear. It was so sweet of the two gentlemen. I promised to post their contact on my blog. If you are interested in engaging them, you can e-mail to blackkakoi@yahoo.com. They love mum and took a photo with her