Lord, save me as fast as you can. If I have to sit through this on Big Apple this fall I will be one sorry ticket holder. This would be the perfect time to take a potty break. There must be someone funnier in Europe than this one.
i dont like this gag either. when fumagalli does acrobatis in the act it is ok but when hes doing a pure clown number it is always les good.
this looks like he borrowed the orchestra gag from larible but used a rock band instead.
and again the audience has the funny part he is not a bit funny.
yes he has a silver clown from monte carlo and is the main star everywhere he plays but I certainly dont like him. his acts were funny 50 years ago but know: oh my god!!
les fransesco, the roncallis when fransesco and angelo were still there, the lovely milk gag of charlie cairoli now thats good old skool european clowning but fumagalli: hmmmmm
you still can see it is an acrobat that changed his profession halfway.
I think that the greatest gift of Fumagalli (besides repertory more or less strong) is the wonderful character and the quality of his pantomime without the need of a strong make-up. And don't forget his brother Daris, one of the best straight men ever.All this you hardly can get from video. Those who saw him live understand me. I disagree with who says that Fumagalli is less good in pure clowning: I think he is one of the best in the world. Again, if you want appreciate him in pure clowning, see him live in the busy bee. It is 20 minutes of pure solo pantomime and hysterical laughing: I honestly don't know how many circus clowns today can accomplish this and in many countries and cultures . This audience-band isn't perhaps his best piece. But I understand that for business you need sometimes add something, especially if you are asked to come back in some venues. The main Fumagalli routines are of course the table acrobatic act and the busy bee. He produced this band piece last year because this italian TV show asked to him 5 new specific pieces for each episode. It is true that this audience participation is close to some of Laribel of others. The idea of involving audience member in a dramatic plot with props(opera, band, etc.)is a very old italian concept of repertory. It is mainly due to Carlo Colombaioni in the late 60s the spread of this around the world. It is maybe interesting to add that Colombaioni dinasty is strictly connected with part of the Larible and Fumagalli families. Thise things have been around in their life for decades. But Carlo Colombaioni was the first to take classical european clowning outside of circus and into theatre and street: it is very likely that after him, in the early 80s, took shape the audience-participation work of Shiner, Shub, and Cesar, and others.
It will be interesting to see how Fumagalli goes over on the Apple circus in america. His Busy Bee is a good version of the entree but the use of vodka bottles and getting the audience wet will push the envelope for a Apple clown. The European clowns who have appeared there, like the Colombaini, have rarely gone over well with american audiences. I agree with Zippo that he is basically an acrobat who changed careers....
The vodka stuff has already been a matter of discussion with the management and it will be solved in some way. The vodka idea, and the drunk clown, is a very recent addition to the busy bee. It was introduced for the firt time in 1991 at Circus Roncalli, and is credited to Bernhard Paul that performed the entrèe at the time with the late Tino Fratellini and Angelo Munoz. Another new twist from Paul is the crown and mantle. In 1994, Fumagalli replaced Munoz at Roncalli, and he was teached this version of the entrèe. Later, Munoz performed the Roncalli-version of the entrèe in circus Knie, and Fumagalli at his Circus Fumagalli (2001), then at Monte Carlo, winning a silver. Bernhard Paul was (and still is) very upset at that. But it mus be said that Fumagalli performed a traditional version of that many years before Roncalli.
It is only in part true that Fumagalli is an acrobat that turned his career to clown. Fumagalli, his real name Gianni Huesca, and his brother, Daris, have been performing in the 70s and 80s as a teeterboard duo all over Europe and the world. In the same time, they performed as comedians in Italy in movies, tv, variety theatres. Who saw the Fellini movie "Roma", will see the kind of revues they was performing in for popular audiences. It was a great school for comedy: it was called "avanspettacolo" and it used to be for Italy what is in America the vaudeville. Their father was the clown Enrichetto Fumagalli, very popular in many italian circuses. At the end of another Felini movie, "Clowns", Mr.Fellini adress himself to an old tired clown in the dressing room, taht tells a tale: this is Fumagalli the father. In 1994, Gianni and Daris was performing with their comedy acrobatic act with the table in the last season of Jacobi Althoff Circus in Austria. They was performing this as Huesca Brothers with standard European clown costumes. At the season ending show and party (I was there) Bernhard Paul saw their act, and approached them for the following Roncalli season. Bernhard suggested to Gianni to take his father's name, Fumagalli. Then he conceived for him the make-up and hairdress. He put on him an uniform, and put Daris as ringmaster: the idea was to have Gianni just hanging around as a funny ring boy (as in the origins of the august), and interact with Daris, to motivate later casually their table act. At the time, Munoz was performing the busy bee. After a couple of seasons, Munoz left, and Fumagalli simply took the place. After Tino Fratellini passed away, Francesco Caroli took the white face role. In 2000, Daris and Gianni finished with Roncalli. They kept the Fumagalli name, that in Germany was now huge, and opened briefly their own circus; then they continued their own career.
The way the Apple circus "handles" the vodka bottle will prove to be interesting. The drunken aspect has played a role in many clown entrees for years, and with Angelo Munoz, the sweetness of his personality came through and made him and his actions very likeable. Gianni has a much more aggressive/simpleton personality and it will be up to the circus producers to mold him into their type of clown. Most of the clowns who have been successful on the apple show have been softer personality...like barry Rubin, Jeff Goordoon, Oaf & Mr. Fish, Orville, Ceaser, the Desantos, Bello. The European clown artists like Valarie, Columbaini, Mimi, Nicolidi have had a harder time adadting their styles to the american audiences.
well I'm just getting around to seeing this. what interesting and educational comments. its not that hes not funny he definate ly is its just the perfect storm on this video. the cammera man doesn't know how to shoot comedy.his hair doesn't match his clown. he is not being himself. this is a smart clown that should tap into more of what he feels not what people tell him to or what he thinks he should feel. (ie "how would a clown react to this") no. how would you react to this. whats at stake? ( mabey the producers are watching) I think if he had this inner dialogue his movements would seem more Funny. but then funny is relative.Thanks for listening. Bugsbe
Lord, save me as fast as you can.
ReplyDeleteIf I have to sit through this on Big Apple this fall I will be one sorry ticket holder.
This would be the perfect time to take a potty break.
There must be someone funnier in Europe than this one.
there sure is!!
ReplyDeletei dont like this gag either.
when fumagalli does acrobatis in the act it is ok but when hes doing a pure clown number it is always les good.
this looks like he borrowed the orchestra gag from larible but used a rock band instead.
and again the audience has the funny part he is not a bit funny.
yes he has a silver clown from monte carlo and is the main star everywhere he plays but I certainly dont like him.
his acts were funny 50 years ago but know: oh my god!!
les fransesco, the roncallis when fransesco and angelo were still there, the lovely milk gag of charlie cairoli now thats good old skool european clowning but fumagalli: hmmmmm
you still can see it is an acrobat that changed his profession halfway.
I think that the greatest gift of Fumagalli (besides repertory more or less strong) is the wonderful character and the quality of his pantomime without the need of a strong make-up. And don't forget his brother Daris, one of the best straight men ever.All this you hardly can get from video. Those who saw him live understand me.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with who says that Fumagalli is less good in pure clowning: I think he is one of the best in the world. Again, if you want appreciate him in pure clowning, see him live in the busy bee. It is 20 minutes of pure solo pantomime and hysterical laughing: I honestly don't know how many circus clowns today can accomplish this and in many countries and cultures .
This audience-band isn't perhaps his best piece. But I understand that for business you need sometimes add something, especially if you are asked to come back in some venues.
The main Fumagalli routines are of course the table acrobatic act and the busy bee. He produced this band piece last year because this italian TV show asked to him 5 new specific pieces for each episode.
It is true that this audience participation is close to some of Laribel of others.
The idea of involving audience member in a dramatic plot with props(opera, band, etc.)is a very old italian concept of repertory. It is mainly due to Carlo Colombaioni in the late 60s the spread of this around the world. It is maybe interesting to add that Colombaioni dinasty is strictly connected with part of the Larible and Fumagalli families. Thise things have been around in their life for decades. But Carlo Colombaioni was the first to take classical european clowning outside of circus and into theatre and street: it is very likely that after him, in the early 80s, took shape the audience-participation work of Shiner, Shub, and Cesar, and others.
It will be interesting to see how Fumagalli goes over on the Apple circus in america. His Busy Bee is a good version of the entree but the use of vodka bottles and getting the audience wet will push the envelope for a Apple clown. The European clowns who have appeared there, like the Colombaini, have rarely gone over well with american audiences. I agree with Zippo that he is basically an acrobat who changed careers....
ReplyDeleteThe vodka stuff has already been a matter of discussion with the management and it will be solved in some way.
ReplyDeleteThe vodka idea, and the drunk clown, is a very recent addition to the busy bee. It was introduced for the firt time in 1991 at Circus Roncalli, and is credited to Bernhard Paul that performed the entrèe at the time with the late Tino Fratellini and Angelo Munoz.
Another new twist from Paul is the crown and mantle. In 1994, Fumagalli replaced Munoz at Roncalli, and he was teached this version of the entrèe.
Later, Munoz performed the Roncalli-version of the entrèe in circus Knie, and Fumagalli at his Circus Fumagalli (2001), then at Monte Carlo, winning a silver.
Bernhard Paul was (and still is) very upset at that.
But it mus be said that Fumagalli performed a traditional version of that many years before Roncalli.
It is only in part true that Fumagalli is an acrobat that turned his career to clown.
ReplyDeleteFumagalli, his real name Gianni Huesca, and his brother, Daris, have been performing in the 70s and 80s as a teeterboard duo all over Europe and the world. In the same time, they performed as comedians in Italy in movies, tv, variety theatres. Who saw the Fellini movie "Roma", will see the kind of revues they was performing in for popular audiences. It was a great school for comedy: it was called "avanspettacolo" and it used to be for Italy what is in America the vaudeville. Their father was the clown Enrichetto Fumagalli, very popular in many italian circuses. At the end of another Felini movie, "Clowns", Mr.Fellini adress himself to an old tired clown in the dressing room, taht tells a tale: this is Fumagalli the father.
In 1994, Gianni and Daris was performing with their comedy acrobatic act with the table in the last season of Jacobi Althoff Circus in Austria. They was performing this as Huesca Brothers with standard European clown costumes. At the season ending show and party (I was there) Bernhard Paul saw their act, and approached them for the following Roncalli season. Bernhard suggested to Gianni to take his father's name, Fumagalli. Then he conceived for him the make-up and hairdress. He put on him an uniform, and put Daris as ringmaster: the idea was to have Gianni just hanging around as a funny ring boy (as in the origins of the august), and interact with Daris, to motivate later casually their table act.
At the time, Munoz was performing the busy bee. After a couple of seasons, Munoz left, and Fumagalli simply took the place. After Tino Fratellini passed away, Francesco Caroli took the white face role.
In 2000, Daris and Gianni finished with Roncalli. They kept the Fumagalli name, that in Germany was now huge, and opened briefly their own circus; then they continued their own career.
The way the Apple circus "handles" the vodka bottle will prove to be interesting. The drunken aspect has played a role in many clown entrees for years, and with Angelo Munoz, the sweetness of his personality came through and made him and his actions very likeable. Gianni has a much more aggressive/simpleton personality and it will be up to the circus producers to mold him into their type of clown. Most of the clowns who have been successful on the apple show have been softer personality...like barry Rubin, Jeff Goordoon, Oaf & Mr. Fish, Orville, Ceaser, the Desantos, Bello. The European clown artists like Valarie, Columbaini, Mimi, Nicolidi have had a harder time adadting their styles to the american audiences.
ReplyDeletewell I'm just getting around to seeing this. what interesting and educational comments. its not that hes not funny he definate ly is its just the perfect storm on this video. the cammera man doesn't know how to shoot comedy.his hair doesn't match his clown. he is not being himself. this is a smart clown that should tap into more of what he feels not what people tell him to or what he thinks he should feel. (ie "how would a clown react to this") no. how would you react to this. whats at stake? ( mabey the producers are watching) I think if he had this inner dialogue his movements would seem more Funny. but then funny is relative.Thanks for listening. Bugsbe
ReplyDelete