We had Charles the Clown perform for my son's 6th birthday party.
I normally don't write reviews on Yelp, but I was compelled to write one because I want other parents to have the same wonderful experience for their kids that my son so greatly enjoyed on his birthday.
In the days since the party, I've heard my son's friends discuss how they thought Charles the Clown was "so funny," and I've heard adults say that his show was their favorite part of the event.
It's clear from the start of the show that Charles is much more than an entertainer. He understands children, how they think, what makes them laugh, what might make them afraid, and how to reassure them.
He arrives at the party looking like an ordinary man -- except for the red pants and a rather clownish shirt -- then begins transforming himself into Charles The Clown, making the whole process hilarious. He uses the dynamics in his voice to get loud when the show is funny, but just as important, to get soft and reassuring when he does something that might be scary for a kid - like when his puppet is first introduced. By doing this, Charles puts the kids completely at ease, gains their trust, and gets them ready to laugh out loud during the rest of the show.
Seeing the children laugh reminded me of watching the audience at a movie theater enjoying great comedy, or an audience watching a brilliant standup comedian. At the end of each line, the kids erupted with laughter. Charles fully understands what kids find funny, and keeps them keeled over in laughter for nearly the entire show. I'm not exaggerating when I say that my son literally fell off his chair at one point in the show because he was laughing so hard. I've never seen my son watch anything he found remotely as funny.
I was with the same group of kids at a birthday party the prior weekend. During the show at that party, the kids became bored, some of them started running up on stage, or getting distracted and yelling. With Charles, the kids who had been disruptive the week before were instead captivated by his act. They were fully immersed in the show. Watching the kids have such a wonderful time is the best part of the show for us as parents.
The most touching part for me was when, just before the show ended, my son said, "this is the best day ever." What more could you want for your kid on his or her birthday? And Charles the Clown played a huge role in making my son's birthday so special.
I can't recommend him highly enough for your children's parties. read more