Clown acrobats teeterboard
Clown acrobats teeterboard – I first saw this in a movie, The Great Rupert, performed by the great Jimmy Durante. In the scene, he’s playing the part of a vaudeville acrobat, whose landlord has asked him to teach him a simple acrobatic trick …
Clown 1: Are you a real acrobat?
Clown 2: I sure am! I’ve performed for kings on 6 continents – and Antartica’s next!
Clown 1: You know, I’ve always found acrobats to be really cool! Could you teach me … you know … just a simple acrobatic trick?
Clown 2: Sure thing! Let me see what you’ve got to work with around here … [in the movie, Jimmy Durante used a round footstool and a table leaf – feel free to use something more clown-related. Just remember, we’re making a fulcrum, like a teeter totter – on one end place a chair for one of the clowns to jump down from]
Clown 2: Okay, we’re nearly ready! Now, I’ll stand on the low end [goes to the other end, lifts his chin up and puts a glass of water on his forehead] Now! You climb on the chair, jump on the other end, and I’ll do a triple flip through the air and land on my feet, not spilling a single drop of water!
Clown 1: Are you sure this will work?
Clown 2: Absolutely! I’ve taught this to a child! Are you ready?
Clown 1: Ready!
Clown 2: Alright then! On the count of three … 1 … 2 … 3! Jump!
[Clown 1 jumps onto the ‘plank’ – which immediately breaks. Wait for the audience to react, turn and make facial reactions, etc. Eventually, Clown 2 looks at the broken plank and exclaims …]
Clown 2: [facing the audience] Termites!