Page 52 - Unlikely Stories 4

The Magic Clown

will not participate in the illusion. People will not willingly or
unwittingly deceive themselves without a credible deceiver. I could not
play the part, no matter how I dressed up or rehearsed a routine. I am
laughable in fish and tails, butter-fingered and mumble-mouthed. My
stage fright is palpable in the balcony. It mattered not that I could do
any trick in the book. Everyone knows the technique is not what
counts: it’s the delivery.”
Tony was getting agitated.
“But you found a solution,” Ann suggested.
“Yes. I was scanning the back pages of the newspaper for menial
jobs when my friend called. He had enthusiastically described my act
to his aunt, whose party clown had canceled at the last moment. She
was desperate, and wanted me, sight unseen. At first I refused. As you
are aware, children are generally the worst possible audience for a
magician because their attention cannot easily be manipulated. That
would not have been a problem for me: I didn’t care what they
noticed because I was performing real magic. No, I couldn’t bear the
thought of them laughing at me while I was doing it. They would only
see the fool, not the miracle-worker. Then it dawned on me: people,
children included, are predisposed to laugh at clowns. I could fall all
over myself and it would work as valid stagecraft if I appeared as a
comedian in a circus costume who somehow managed to perform
tricks normally done by imposing, sophisticated self-assured
magicians. I rented the Pierrot suit and floppy shoes, made myself up
as best I could and showed up at the kiddies’ party drunk as a skunk.
The Magic Clown was born: the rest is history.”
Tony Riga again fell silent and the interviewer pursed her lips,
searching for the next question.
“So…you are saying that you felt you had no choice other than to
take on the persona of a clown?”
“If I wanted to make a living with the only talent I had, and do it
despite my lack of other talents. But I hated it. I couldn’t go on stage
unless I’d had a drink or two. Maybe that contributed to my mental
deterioration. I did tell you that I am moving out of here on…in a few
days?”
“Yes, you did. Let me get this straight: you were never sober, your
entire career? Television, Las Vegas, the White House Christmas
party? You were famous for Sawing a Woman in Half, Walking
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