Prankster

A prankster in clowning refers to a clown whose main role is to play harmless practical jokes and pranks to amuse the audience. The origins of the prankster clown lie in ancient tricksters and court jesters who used humor, absurdity, and wit to point out truths and subtly mock power.

History of the Prankster Clown

Clowns have been playing the role of comedic prankster for centuries in many cultures. Drawing from mythological trickster archetypes like the Native American coyote spirit, medieval court jesters often played pranks on nobles to slyly ridicule and humanize them. The modern circus clown tradition continued this irreverent spirit into the 19th and 20th century.

Influential clowns like Joseph Grimaldi developed the colorful costume, slapstick physical comedy, and subversive pranks that became trademarks of the classic prankster clown. Notable circus clowns who embodied this role include Otto Griebling and Emmett Kelly . Their wildly amusing gag stunts and hi jinks delighted many audiences over the years.

Types of Prankster Clowns

There are a few styles of clowns who take on the prankster role:

• Whiteface Clowns  - Traditionally pranksters with white face makeup accented by colorful clothes, props and hair. Their mischief is often elaborate and clever, more than vulgar.

• Auguste Clowns  - Buffoonish pranksters with skin-toned or red makeup, oversized clothes and wild wigs. They play more broadly goofy and slapstick pranks.

• Hobo Clowns  - With tramp or hobo costumes and makeup, they pull pranks from an underdog perspective.

Modern clowns like Slava Polunin blend these styles in creative ways while continuing the tradition of harmless public pranks.

Classic Prankster Skills & Techniques

Mastering certain skills is key to playing a convincing prankster clown:

• Slapstick physical comedy  - Tripping, mocking injuries, squirting seltzer water and making a mess

• Subversive humor  that undermines authority and challenges conventions

• Audience interplay  through call and response jokes and getting spectators involved

• Improvisation  to adapt pranks fluidly to the live audience and setting

A few classic clown pranks and jokes include:

• Ridiculous disguises and costumes to fool policeman or authority figures

• Mock struggles mounting unicycles, juggling pins, or performing circus stunts

• Play fighting using slapsticks or prop weapons

• Squirting pranks with trick flowers or water buckets

• Getting cream pies smashed in their face

Importance of the Prankster Clown Today

The prankster clown remains an iconic tradition of clowning arts, reminding us to find humor even in hard situations. They can serve as a pressure valve to relieve tensions in society through outrageous pranks and irreverent humor pointed at those who take themselves too seriously.

Most importantly, the prankster clown brings transcendent joy and strengthens our communities through contagious laughter.