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| | Stilts are
straight poles with steps, arranged at a certain height (1-2 arshins
from ground), meant for walking. Poles are either long, whereas the
poles are held by hands of the walker behind his arms or short poles,
which are tied to the knees of walker, resting on lengthy stick.
Walking on stilts is known from ancient times. Stilts got widespread
growth in France: In Gascony Lands, where rain water does not dry
quickly and form swamps, making difficult for pedestrians. Stilts
served as main means of information exchange in rural areas. In the
middle of century, stilt fighting contests were organized in Numor
between two camps, consisting of the citizens; Fight was organized on
large area in front of the city hall. The stilt fighters have to hit
the opponents with legs.
Origin of the clown:
The history of the clown should be begun with festivals of the Ancient Greece, then there were rural merry fellows “komos” which went between villages, amused the people, parodied, cried out jokes to passersby, playfully argued that was called then “agonom” - exchanged caustic at times insulting words.
Later the most bright and resourceful people have received the name “bomoloh”
Together with “bomoloh” there always was a partner named “bohval”. “Bomoloh” always was the leader, always won and at times offended “bohval” and if “bomoloh” had not enaugh words he started to bang “bohval”. As jokers were rural “kolonus”, bomoloh’s jokes have accepted the given image and removed from the Ancient Greece to Italy and the meaning of this word was the “witty person” instead of “rural”. As caustic jokes of mischievous persons had critical character, made fun of various bad streaks of the person, the Athenes’ authority having democratic way, saw in such jokes positive use of influence on moral level of people, and decided to make bomolohs’ jokes the traditional method of influence on people and started to invite them in theater to speak with witty reproaches.
Together with bomolohs aesthetic concepts of style, expressiveness, carnival language and techniques came to theater.
Comic receptions of a carnival became a basis of circus clownery language, - requisite use, dexterity, plastic, acrobatics, juggling, illusion and style of national performance. But refusal of the standard norms, a liberty, negation of universal norms and conventions led to development of the circus character which developed in parallel with dramatics.
Representations were called “imitation” at that time. Mimicking and copying of people were some of the main scenic receptions.
Actors “phlyax” worked active and used acrobatics, showed comic falling. There were buffoon-comical types “attelan” which had grotesque character of faces, make-up, used asymmetric forms, made big mouths or a huge nose, there was bald head too. Garments were motley with multi-colored stains, triangles and rhombuses. These figures became characteristic for the Italian comedy of masks, and are used now modern clowns later.
Before a circus art basis there were actors “histrio” - jugglers, they juggled with the fire sticks, belched fire from a mouth, invented magic devices for focuses, trained pigeons. Later they had a division into genres: acrobats, trainers, storytellers, troubadours. In 14th century there was a division of “histrio” on an "aristocratic" class - where there were musicians and dancers, and the lowest class - acrobats, trainers, rope-walkers, clowns, illusionists - all genres which became a circus art basis.
In 16 century, in 1563 for the first time there is a character which had the name "clown". The name "clown" became the name of scenic role in 20 years. Acting in the same mask, the clown looked ridiculous, clumsy, naive. Each entrance on arena was independent, not connected with a storyline of a play. Playwrights specially left emptiness for comic tricks of the clown. During the same time in England and France there were first circuses.
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