Discovering the Clown, or The Funny Book of Good Acting

by Christopher Bayes, Virginia Scott (With)

Overview

“Christopher Bayes is a master, an extraordinary visionary who has done more to liberate young American actors over the last two generations than I can possibly express. His classes in Clowning are philosophical manifestos; the power of his laughter inextricable from the depth of his spirit. This book is a treasure. Nothing can replace the experience of being in the room with a master teacher, but this practical, playful, brilliant book is the next best thing. Read it. It is indispensable.” —Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director, The Public Theater

Discovering the Clown, or The Funny Book of Good Acting is a unique glimpse into the wild world of the Clown, unveiling “the playful self, the unsocialized self, the naive self…the big stupid who just wants to have some fun with the audience.” An essential guide for artists and actors wanting to set free the messy and hilarious Clown within.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781559365611
Publisher:	Theatre Communications Group
Publication date:	07/30/2019
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Christopher Bayes is one of the most sought after teachers of Clown and Physical Comedy in the country. He has taught internationally and been on the faculty of many presti­gious schools, including Yale, The Juilliard School, Brown, and NYU’s Graduate Acting Program. He is the co-founder and head of The Funny School of Good Acting in Brooklyn, New York. He is currently Professor and Head of Physical Acting at Yale School of Drama.

Virginia Scott is a director/devisor/teacher of Physical Theater, and co-founder of The Funny School of Good Acting. She has taught Clown at The Juilliard School, Pace University, the Actors Center, CAP 21, and Tisch School of the Arts.

Table of Contents

Preface Virginia Scott ix

Introduction Christopher Bayes xv

Part 1

The Gift of Your Talent: A Prologue 3

Preparing the Body to Discover the Clown 5

Warming the Muscle 7

The Little Voice of the Body 10

Natural Rhythm 13

Finding Discovery in the Body 16

Kinesthetic Response 19

The Speed of Fun! 21

Empathetic Response 22

Bringing on the Gleeful Pandemonium 28

Part 2

Entering the Comic World 35

The Sweet Spot! 36

Make Sound When You Travel! 38

Smell the Barn 40

Mr. Shotgun 42

Make Us Laugh 45

Adjustments 47

Your Fun Owes You Nothing 53

Discovering a Physical Psychology 55

The Counter-Mask and Socialized Masks 61

Flexing the Emotional Imagination 67

The Exercise of Forgetting 76

Part 3

Discovering the Clown 83

The Red Nose 89

Discovering the World from Above the Little Red Horizon 97

Discovering the Audience 100

The Pleasure of the Show-Off 108

Triumph 116

Disaster 125

Part 4

The Clown 131

Shows 132

Beyond the Clown 135

The Beauty of Chaos: An Afterword 139

Editorial Reviews

Christopher Bayes knows where the funny lies in every actor. More importantly he also knows where the truth lies that releases the funny. He thinks he is a Clown teacher, but he is really a master acting teacher. If you ever want to do Beckett or Chekhov or Shakespeare you better do Bayes first. I stand in awe of his gift.”

Lloyd Richards Professor of Acting (Emeritus), Yale School of Drama - Ron Van Lieu

Impressively informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, Discovering the Clown, or The Funny Book of Good Acting must be considered as an essential guide for artists and actors wanting to set free the messy and hilarious Clown within themselves.”

Midwest Book Review Library Bookwatch

‘MORE BAYES!!!’ is what students at Yale School of Drama write to me, again and again, about studying with Christopher Bayes… They invariably type in ALL CAPS. They are clamoring for the very wisdom you hold in your hands, because he is a master teacher of a gen­eration of remarkably gifted and successful actors who have learned to own the softness of their brains while finding out what makes them funny. Discovering the Clown is worthy of Christo­pher’s huge talent, which he shares with appropriate abandon and generosity: this book is hilar­ious, uplifting, and indispensable for anyone who cares deeply about acting.”

Dean, Yale School of Drama / Artistic Director - James Bundy