Shriner clowns compete for children’s laughter

There are bound to be more than a few laughs this weekend when 130 clowns descend upon the Bangor Mall to compete for the title of top banana. Clowns from a dozen Shrine temples in New England and the Canadian provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia will lock bulbous noses and big feet in the competition billed as Clown-A-Rama.

“All during the year, we perform for other people,” said Ken Wood, president of the Northeast Shrine Clown Association. “Then, once a year, we compete against ourselves.”

The Shrine clowns are well known for their charitable volunteer work and especially for their many presentations at hospitals and convalescent homes, where they cheer up both the young and old.

As hosts and judges for the event, Wood and the other clowns from Anah Temple Shrine in Bangor won’t be competing in the Clown-A-Rama.

“The other clowns love it when we don’t compete, because we take about 12 trophies every year,” boasted Wood, who last year won the Children’s Choice Award.

Beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 22, the public will be treated to a variety of minibike and go-kart demonstrations in the parking lot outside the mall main entrance. That will be followed at about 9:30 a.m. by a clown parade inside led by the Anah Temple Shrine’s bagpipe-playing Highlander Unit.

Then, from 10 a.m. to noon, the clowns will strut their stuff on a runway set up at center court, where a panel of four judges will critique each contestant’s makeup and costume. An emcee will be on hand to describe the action.

“It’s a clown fashion show,” said Wood. “It’s definitely a lot of fun.”

Still at center court, the Anah Temple Band will perform at noon and clown skits will be 1-4 p.m.

“Audience participation means a lot in the skit competition,” said Wood.

Following the skits, a bicycle will also be given away to a lucky 2 to 17-year-old in a 4 p.m. drawing.

Judges will be awarding trophies to the first, second and third place finishers in a variety of clown categories.

White Face Clowns: `They’re very clean; they don’t play any tricks on people. They’re just good-natured clowns,” Wood explained.

Auguste Clowns: “Multi-colored faces, pranksters. They pull the tricks on the white faced clowns, the tramps and the audience, anyone that they can dupe.”

Tramps and Happy Hoboes: “The tramp is the sad, down-and-outer. He doesn’t have a thing to his name because he lost it all. He probably carries a copy of the Wall Street Journal to remind him of what he had. The happy hobo also doesn’t have a thing, but it’s by his own choosing. He’s a tramp, but he’s happy-go-lucky.”

Character Clown: “That’s a clown dressed as anything that might represent someone or something in life, like a scarecrow or a chef, a doctor or policeman.”

Seniors: Clowns over 65.

The judges will also award first, second and third place trophies for the best single-, double- and multiple-clown skits.

But what will the judges be looking for?

“Something to please the children,” said Wood. “That’s our main thing. That’s why we work the hospitals during the year.”

In keeping with that philosophy, the most coveted prize of the clown competition is the Children’s Choice Award. Wood explained that each clown will be wearing a number the children can use to vote for their favorite clown.

Regardless of the outcome, children of all ages can expect a good time.

“Every clown is going to be different,” said Wood, “and they all have a little trinket to give away or a joke to play on the kids.”