Dropping the Ball – This is a silent skit, for 2 or more clowns, based on an incident that happened to me at work. Props required are a cardboard box (with the bottom not taped shut, merely held together by the clown as he carries the box), containing a goodly number of rubber balls (or if you have more time to pick them up, ping pong balls, rubber eggs, etc.)
The skit begins with Clown 1 walking on stage, carrying the box filled with rubber balls. He stops, turns toward the audience, and pulls out a rubber ball (ping pong ball, rubber egg, or whatever is in the box). As he does so, Clown 2 sneaks up behind him with a horn or noisemaker, pantomiming what he’s about to do. Typically, the audience will try to warn Clown 1, who is clueless as to what is about to happen. This is a golden opportunity for some clownishness—for example, as Clown 1 turns to look behind himself at the audience’s urging, Clown 2 walks in a wider circle, remaining behind him, etc. After milking the situation for all it’s worth, Clown 2 blows his horn, startling Clown 1, who spills the contents on the box all over the stage. Disgusted, Clown 1 puts the box down and starts picking up the items.
Depending on the character of Clown 2, he could either walk off stage laughing at Clown 1, or he could be contrite, and choose to help Clown 1 pick up. If he walks off, this would be an opportunity for a 3rd (4th, etc.) clown to walk on and “help” Clown 1.
This is where much of the humor comes in. As Clown 2 (or 3, or 4, etc.) start to help, they pick up the ball, look at it, become fascinated with it and stop picking up in order to do “something” with it. Some suggestions – juggling, holding 2 balls in front of their eyes, dropping the ball or egg into a change bag and pulling out a rubber chicken, etc. Each time, Clown 1 catches him/them playing, chides them, and goes back to work. If more than 2 clowns are performing, after Clown 3 is chided, he walks off stage, Clown 4 comes on stage and does the next “bit,” etc.