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![Clown Bluey's History of Clowns: Grimaldi: Joey Grimaldi's last performance at Sadlers Wells,1828. [Mary Evans Picture Library]](http://www.clownbluey.co.uk/albums/Clown-Blueys-History-of-Clowns-images/Joey_Grimaldi_s_last_performance_1828.jpg "Clown Bluey's History of Clowns: Grimaldi: Joey Grimaldi's last performance at Sadlers Wells,1828. [Mary Evans Picture Library]")
Clown Bluey's History of Clowns: Grimaldi: Joey Grimaldi's last performance at Sadlers Wells,1828. [Mary Evans Picture Library]
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Clown Bluey's History of Clowns: Grimaldi. 'Joey', as Grimaldi was universally known (and all clowns to this day are called "Joeys" in his honour), was the illegitimate son of an elderly ballet master who had spent the first forty years of his life in theatres in Italy and France. His Mother was a young Cockney dancing girl. Joey's first performance took place at the age of two years and four months at the Sadlers Wells Theatre on Easter Monday, 1781. Through his brilliant imagination, this superb clown stole the lead from Harlequin and eventually became the hero of the pantomimes, with Harlequin becoming the love interest with Columbine. Grimaldi has been called the 'Michelangelo of buffoonery' and he was particularly famed for his comic songs, such as "Hot Codlins" (hot codlins were roasted apples sold in the streets of London at the time). The essence of Grimaldi's performances lay in his dynamic energy. When his strength began to fail him, men would wait in the wings to massage his legs as soon as he came offstage. Throughout his career he suffered broken bones, wrenched muscles and other injuries brought on by numberless comic kicks and beatings. Grimaldi's insistence on playing two theatres (on one occasion, three) every night certainly contributed to his early disablement. His failing health mean't he could no longer stand and he gave his last performance sat on a chair at the footlights at Drury Lane Theatre. Grimaldi inherited a centuries-old clowning tradition and added it to his own unique style, transforming what now seems unpromising material to create a new, distinctive English type of clown. His was a clown which, for the first time, did not rely simply on the slow wit of the rustic yokel outsmarted by the shrewder partner; he was a smart urban satirist, poking fun at the vices of age, getting his laughs out of transforming everyday objects and gilding every situation with his inimitable and immortal comic gift.
He died aged 58 on 31 May 1837 and was buried at St James Chapel. The church has long been demolished, but his grave remains in a small memorial garden. Since 1946, clowns have held an annual Grimaldi Memorial Service on the first Sunday each February, to pay tribute to Joey, and to thank God for the gift of laughter. Present day services are held in the clown's church, The Holy Trinity, Dalston, East London. |
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