The clowns Gaston, Roli and Fritzi are veterans of the Conelli circus and have a contract for life. They love to improvise and want to stay in the ring as long as their legs will carry them.
Conny-Land, a Friday in early fall, the sun is shining. When Frithjof "Fritzi" Gasser (59), Gaston Häni (66) and Roli Noirjean (42) arrive for the interview, the somewhat sleepy mood in the amusement park, which is closed on this day, changes abruptly: park employees come over and greet the three clowns effusively, some of them have known each other for years, they have experienced many seasons together. Fritzi and Gaston were there in the early days of the circus founded by Conny Gasser 35 years ago, and Roli has also been part of the circus for 20 years. The three clowns and the Conelli Christmas Circus are so inextricably linked that Fritzi, Gaston and Roli have been offered lifetime employment.
Why do you become a clown?
Gaston: One of my great uncles, Jean Andreff, was a great clown with international success. My mother also had an incredible talent for comedy. I was born into the world of the circus.
Fritzi: I always wanted to be a performer too, they always had such beautiful costumes. And my grandmother always said: He has to do August, he always walks around like he's wet his pants anyway. (everyone laughs)
Roli, but you started out as a career changer?
Roli: I'm a butcher's son. But when I saw Gaston at Cirkus Nock as a child, I was hooked - even though I was actually scared of clowns.
Clowns are said to be basically sad people.
Gaston: This old legend is not true. We certainly take our profession seriously, which people often misjudge and makes us sad. But clowns are basically humorous people, otherwise we wouldn't be able to do our job.
Roli: Being funny in the circus ring takes a lot of work. Everything has to be right. If the lighting isn't right, the orchestra starts at the wrong moment or an ambulance drives past the tent at the wrong time, the punchline can fall flat. We can't repeat them.
"People are often surprised that they can laugh without us offending anyone."
Do you like to improvise?
Fritzi: Improvisation is the best thing for us!
Gaston: We're constantly developing a number, so we keep the joy of playing even during long seasons.
Fritzi: But you have to give each other the laughs.
What does that mean?
Gaston: When one person is performing, the others have to play along from head to toe and carry the act. Playing together is like a declaration of love.
Roli: You also have to know each other very well to improvise. We have the advantage that we're not acting, we're being ourselves.
"As a child, I was afraid of clowns."
How much has the clown craft changed?
Roli: The stories we tell are the same as they used to be, but we adapt them to modern times. But because of the wide range of entertainment on offer, it has become more difficult to attract people's attention.
Fritzi: A lot of the comedy today is also below the belt. But we don't do that. People are often surprised that they can laugh,
without offending anyone.
Gaston: We want the audience to take us to their hearts. We have remained traditional clowns and we want to keep it that way.
Fritzi, you were there at the beginning and then devoted yourself to your own program "Clowns and Calories". Last year you returned and you perform as a trio. Why are you back?
Fritzi: In my own program, I'm now doing the young one. But I love doing August (the clown, editor's note) and there's nothing better than working with Gaston and Roli.
Gaston: We always have a great audience at Conelli.
How does Conelli differ from other circuses?
Gaston: The Conelli has excellent technology, very good lighting and great music from an orchestra with strings. You don't find that in many circuses.
Roli: It's also nice to be close to the audience. At the edge of the ring, I'm no further away from the people than we are here at the table.
You have a contract for life. How long will you actually continue?
Fritzi: As long as our feet will carry us.
Roli: It could be finished in an hour. (all laugh)
