Clowning Around

We've finally started our clown rehearsals! Chris (Elisondo) had an idea of a storyline so we decided to run with it: he sees a pretty girl he likes in the audience and attempts to impress her. Each of us then would offer Chris a talent or trick he could use to impress her. I've decided to be a character clown. Initially, I chose the whiteface comedic clown, but then was inspired by the minions in Despicable Me that, in a way, act like clownish characters. In the process of getting Chris the girl, Kayla would teach him a magic trick or two, Shari would teach him dance moves, and I'd give him some toys (papoy's!) he can gift the girl. But of course, each talent would go awry somehow when he actually approaches the girl to try it out.
It's great fun trying out different tricks and physical humor we can use. For example, there's a part in which Chris tries to get a stuffed unicorn from me but my hands are attached, so he pushes against me hard and ends up falling on the floor. I'm really enjoying our rehearsal times. We get to goof around, but appropriately, and step out of our comfort zones and just explore ourselves and our inner sense of humor.
When you start to think about it, clowns are very unsocial characters. They break every possible social norm and somehow get away with it through entertainment. If someone were to walk down the street in baggy, mismatching clothing and blunder every step of the way, he/she would become outcast and stared at, judged by onlookers. But on stage, covered with make up and shone with a spotlight, people laugh at them not in a demeaning way, but an appreciative way. Antisocial behavior is used as entertainment. It's weird that purposeful antisocial behavior would trigger such a reaction but when it happens in real life, it's rude and awkward to laugh at.
This makes me question what about clowning it is that makes people enjoy themselves and feel better. Even though we were putting on antisocial acts, we're also enjoying our time acting out and doing tricks. To me, clowning feels so different from playing a role in a play like Medea where I'm a completely different character. When I'm a clown, that's still me, coming up with my own costume, my own make up, my own actions and lines (if any) that are all geared to resemble who I am. We still have bits to polish up and plan out for now, but I think our performance will turn out good; especially our audience participation!