The Victorian Clown

The Victorian Clown unlocks the secrets of Victorian comedy, letting us into the gaudy world of the circus through the life and works of two professional clowns. James Henry Frowde ran away at 16 to join the famous Henglers' circus, and this volume contains his previously unpublished account of life on the road. Also included is the gag book of another professional clown, Thomas Lawrence, dating from 1871, providing a unique insight into his nightly performances in gas-lit tents all over Victorian England.Previously unpublished manuscripts--James Frowde's account of his young life with the famous Henglers' circus in the 1850s and Thomas Lawrence's 1871 gag book--offer unique, unmediated access to the grass roots of popular entertainment. Through them this book explores the role of the circus clown at the height of equestrian entertainment in Britain, when the comic generated audience attention for the riders and acrobats, by parodying their skills in his own tumbling and contortionism, and also offered a running commentary on the times through his own 'wheezes' or stand-up comedy sets.A micro-history of Victorian comedy, discussing the life and work of two professional clowns.The Victorian Clown is a micro-history of mid-Victorian comedy, spun out of the life and work of two professional clowns. Their previously unpublished manuscripts - James Frowde's account of his young life with the famous Henglers' circus in the 1850s and Thomas Lawrence's 1871 gag book - offer unique, unmediated access to the grass roots of popular entertainment. Through them this book explores the role of the circus clown at the height of equestrian entertainment in Britain, when the comic managed audience attention for the riders and acrobats, parodying their skills in his own tumbling and contortionism, and also offered a running commentary on the times through his own 'wheezes' - stand-up comedy sets. Plays in the ring connect the circus to the stage, and both these men were also comic singers, giving a sharp insight into popular music just as it was being transformed by the new institution of music hall.This is a micro-history of mid-Victorian comedy spun out of the life and work of two professional clowns: James Frowde and Thomas Lawrence. Their work offers access to the grass roots of popular entertainment in Britain, when the comic managed the public attention by parodying their own skills.Ann Featherstone is a lecturer in the Department of Drama at the University of Manchester and Research Assistant in the Department of Drama and Theatre, Royal Holloway, University of London. Jacky Bratton is Professor of Theatre and Cultural History in the Department of Drama and Theatre, Royal Holloway, University of London.