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Dan Kamin |
This week in Charleston, you might catch a mime slowly walking through the state legislature with a transparent briefcase, giving suspicious stress-management seminars, performing in schools, and stealing the show at some symphony concerts.
He’s Dan Kamin—mime, magician, classical clown, and Chaplin expert—visiting from Pittsburgh for a week of performances throughout Charleston.
Kamin described his classical clown as fitting into the “long tradition of low comedians making fun of high culture.” He also shared how he turned from studying industrial design to a life of magic tricks and mimery.
Interview with classical clown Dan Kamin
Kamin performs as the classical clown Friday and Saturday night with the WV Symphony, and on a family concert on Saturday morning.
On the second half of the evening shows, Kamin will introduce two Chaplin films. The movies “Easy Street” and “The Immigrant” will be accompanied by the West Virginia Symphony, who will be playing newly composed music by music director Grant Cooper.
Kamin explained the Chaplin part of the concerts and described his work advising actors Robert Downey Jr. and Johnny Depp on the "lost art" of physical comedy of silent movies.
Dan Kamin talks about Chaplin
You can find out more on WV Symphony Web site. And just for fun, here’s some more classical music comedy:
and some Charlie Chaplin:
Share your favorite classical cartoons, Chaplin movies, or any other funny stuff in the comments.