Today we interview Jean Lucas, founder of f L’Institut Cie from Brittany, France whose clown act, Mr Wilson is an intriguing solo clown act with a difference. While we think we have seen clown acts before, be aware, be very aware that this is inspiration with a twist. Performing at The Garage International venue at Najjars, Mr Wilson is a comedy clown show for adults as well as children. Brace yourselves as this is the Mr Wilson’s first time in Australia…
1. What inspired you to become a performer, dancer, writer, comedian, musician entertainer (please edit/add in how you would describe yourself here)?
As far as I can remember, I have always been drawing, painting or sculpting; so naturally, I went to Art School, to study painting and sculpture. It is then that I met some Americans, amazing jugglers, who had been working in the circus (Barnum & Bailey in the US). We became very close friends and decided to start a show together. Apart from juggling, they mastered a lot of techniques; I was very much interested in theatrical characters (Commedia dell’Arte).
I had the feeling compared to these friends that I couldn’t do anything; indeed, I was very clumsy and subject to stage fright to an amazing extent, until some day I realized I could use all that as a “weapon”; the audience loved it…that’s how my clown character, Mr Wilson, was born.
Our first show was a great success, we did two more, toured almost all over the world (Canada, the US, lots of countries in Europe, Africa, India). When we stopped, I decided to go on and develop a solo clown show.
2. What’s your show about and what should the public expect from your show at the 2009 Adelaide Fringe?
My show is based on a classic clown scheme: the character is sent on stage to do a show for the first time; he’s both petrified and very happy (could be the chance of his life…). His start is somewhat chaotic, lots of flops, but eventually, using his own everyday tools (vacuum cleaner, pressure cooker and so on …) he manages to rig up a show and finishes triumphantly, if not in a classical way.
People usually love the character, because, I think, they relate to him; we have all been off balance, out of place or in embarrassing situations in our turn; that’s why the character has a sort of “universal” side to him. What the audience should expect from my show at the 2009 Adelaide Fringe ? Well, I hope they’ll have a good time and laugh a lot.
3. What was the last Fringe or Festival you performed at and what was it like?
The last festival I performed in was in Normandy (near the city of Caen, west of France), in a very small village and was organized by performers (friends of mine). I played in a very nice circus tent.The atmosphere was beautiful, lots of people (mostly locals who attend this festival every year), the whole thing was very well organized and I think I did a very good job (lots of laughter, applause and nice smiles after the show, good energy, very nice memories!!!).
4. What are your funniest and worst experiences performing in front of an audience?
One of the nicest experiences, if not the funniest one, was a few years ago; I had played the show not far away from Paris and a very, very old man came up to me and said that he wanted to thank me cause he had not been laughing that much for years; that was very touching….
As far as the worst ones, for some reason, they’ve always taken place in France, in some street theater festivals. When the festival is not professional enough, or the audience not used enough to seeing live shows, it can happen that children start “heckling” and nobody either from the organisation or the audience makes a move to stop them; other performers reading this will surely understand what I mean; it is an horrible situation, you can respond to it for a while, but of course, if it goes on for too long, you completely lose your concentration and your character… One time, I had to stop the show, very sad…
5. What’s your greatest achievements to-date? And, what dreams or goals would you like to fulfill?
I performed in a lot of places around the world with the friends I started with. There’s a lot of great memories of the shows we did together. I’ve realized that Mr Wilson, my clown character is very universal, I mean that he “works” in different countries, which is not always the case.
So, my big goal/dream is to work all over the world and to be famous; not for the selfish sake of “being famous”, but because it would make it even easier to play all over and have a chance to crack up people in as many places as possible.
6. What’s the best and worst advice you have ever been given? And did you follow it?
The one person whose advices I always followed is my old Art teacher, whom I still see as often as I can; I remember one thing he told me particularly; he said that in developing my solo show, I should listen to suggestions, but in the end always follow my own intuition, which I did. I think that was a very wise advice.
As far as bad advices, there’s none I can remember at the moment; just a thing, though, I know my dad, although he never told me directly, was worried about me going into such an adventurous and uncertain profession. He hinted it at times; I didn’t follow the “advice”, although I normally always did listen to him cause he was a very good man.
7. Which three famous people would you invite to dinner and why? And what would you prepare for them to eat?
It’s a funny question; well , I know three I would like to meet or to have met : Sean Connery, Clint Eastwood and John Ford, all of them cinema people. Two of them have Celtic origins like myself. I like the first one for his sense of humour, the second one for the great films he made, and the third one for his great skill in depicting characters. I think I would prepare some sea food along with very good wines.
8. What is the best book or books you have read and why?
There’s a lot, but the one that comes to my mind is “Ivanhoe” by Walter Scott. I got intensely wrapped up in the story based in England in the Middle Ages, a very intricate mixture of adventure, impossible love, fighting for freedom and loyalty.
I read it several times and surely will again. I was fascinated by the author’s skill in depicting in a such a vivid way the gap between the Norman masters of the time and the vanquished Saxons. His extremely accurate use of a very rich vocabulary amazes me every time. A voyage both through time and human passions.
9. Tell us 5 interesting and unknown facts about yourself?
I have always been very interested in Celtic culture; actually I have played Irish music since I was a kid. I’m partly a Breton (a Celtic nation from the west of France), I speak the language fairly well and I’m deeply attached to that identity. I have a passion for figures and miniature soldiers; when I have time, I sculpt and cast my own tin soldiers. I love learning new languages. I love good wines and good whiskey (especially scotch).
10. If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?
A very hard question ! Well, if I had this power, I don’t think I’d change anything; it seems to me that all the people who tried only seemed to make things worse; The world is sometimes terrible, sometimes beautiful, and that’s the way it is; in a way, it’s what makes it greatness. In my little corner, I am trying, on stage, to give people whatever beauty, good energy and laughter I can. That is, I feel, my “contribution” to make things better.
