Katie’s Clowns, a benefit for 3-year-old Katie Richmond, who is a cancer patient at Children’s Hospital, will be presented at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2, at Greenbank Farm. The performance will feature Bruce Johnson as Charlie the Juggling Clown.
Johnson has been a clown since 1974. His experience includes six seasons touring with American Circuses and 11 years at amusement parks in Southern California. Arthur Pedlar, president-elect of World Clown Association, described Johnson as “a clown whose artistry and skill has reached international status.” Johnson has represented the United States as an instructor and performer five times at European clown festivals. In 1993, Johnson was one of four people chosen to present papers at the World Clown Congress in Harnosand, Sweden. He was the only person to speak and perform at the congress. The same year he was named World Clown Association’s Clown of the Year.
Johnson will perform two half-hour acts in the show. In The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, the magician has not shown up so Charlie, the janitor, begins playing with the magician’s props. Charlie and the audience are amazed by the wonderful things they experience. In The Magic of Juggling, Charlie combines juggling, magic and audience interaction in a display of skill and artistry.
Johnson’s wife Carole, will appear in the show as Pookie. Carole specializes in hospital clowning and makes weekly appearances at Children’s Hospital. The Johnsons have a home at Lagoon Point. Geri Cooper, daughter of Art Trimble of Greenbank, will appear as Loli the Clown.
There will be face painting and balloon scuptures by donation to Katie’s Fund.
The clowns are donating their time and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to Katie’s Fund. A videotape of the performance will be sent to Katie.
Admission to the show includes Clowning Through the Twentieth Century, a display of 36 pen-and-ink portraits of significant clowns from the past 100 years. Tickets are free to children under age 5; students ages 5-18, $5; adults $10 and families $25. Tickets are available at Coupe’s Greenbank Store, Greenbank Farm, Videoville in Coupeville, Coupeville Pharmacy, Great Times in Coupeville and Book Bay in Freeland.
