MY CLOWNS

my clowns are all boys from across the street except luke, he's from the embassy school, and it's such an interesting experience communicating through a middle man (translator) and seeing the results...luke is a good sport, creating a scene with haridas, a goofball who speaks good english, they work well together. really well.
luke plays mr. cool rockstar clown who doesn't realize the janitor behind him is mocking every move he makes. it's interesting seeing this play occur, a white "cool" celebrity type and an indian working class man coming out on top. there is much fun in watching the faces of the other boys who sit and watch and see the work that's been made for the first time, laughing and rooting on their friends.

some of the smaller clowns are getting violent, they love the pratfalls more than anything, the slaps, walking into walls, hitting eachother with chairs, making sounds with their hands that fool the audience, sounds that sound like their hurting.

i've let go a little. let them play. have this time. i give them proper tools, how to's on making the slaps punches and toe stubbings "read" for the audience. i look at what they propose on their own (from improvisation) and then i do my best to help them articulate their intentions more clearly.

tomorrow is the big show. we have t-shirts for the whole group. red shirts with a cool graphic on the back that reads: circus across cultures (in english and in hindi).

we gave each student 10 tickets in hopes that we'll pack the house.

.....

today i went to the ghandi memorial. walked through the house where he lived his last days. he was killed there. now there are interactive touch screen tvs and unusual electronic cubes which flash ghandi quotes in little red lights like those black rectangle signs with the blinking red dots, like the stock market signs in times square. and there are so many workers there gesturing you through the specified path, tour guides, well versed, and ready to help even when it isn't asked for.

i left earlier than the rest of the gang, i wandered the streets of delhi and found a chaat stand (snacks) i ate a pastry or something with delicious filling. dipped it in the sauce. smoked a single cigarette (you can buy them one at a time here) and then i caught a tuk-tuk back to the school. i filmed a little bit of the streets as they wizzed by on my digital camera. the rickety motion of the 3-wheeled taxi made the footage shaky and rough, like a war-zone. i thought, as i taped, i wish i could capture the smells...