I first met Rob Torres in 1998 in my home in Portland Maine. Avner (the Eccentric) Eisenberg had brought Rob to perform that year at PHYZGIG, an annual festival of physical theater and variety artists. I invited the cast and participants to come to my home to celebrate New Year’s Eve for the post-show cast party. He was already a lovely performer to whom audiences gravitated, and over the years of our professional and personal friendship, I saw him grow into the master clown that he became.

Years later, our paths crossed again at the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival. I was chatting with Rob and, having forgotten about our first meeting, told him I was happy to finally meet him. Rob smiled sheepishly before reminding me that we had indeed met before – in my kitchen! I was suitably embarrassed, and Rob was typically generous with his forgiveness. It was that generosity that made Rob such a great clown. His signature routine was a simple concept where he “collected” the applause of his audience in a tiny box, and without words, got them to applaud on cue whenever he opened that box. It was a clear, engaging idea that empowered the audience and made them all part of his show.    ...