Farther along in the chapter Travelling Circus, from her 1956 memoir Les Girls, Ms Tomkinson continues her account of a performance by Spanish clown Charlie Rivel (1896-1983)…

Naples was noted for its tough audiences. We listened as we sang for the whistles of disapproval, but they did not come. In the wings we passed Paulina Rivel standing with her younger brothers flushed and eager, waiting to go on.  They were only children and for them to go out on that stage seemed like throwing Christians to the lions…

We were in our dressing-room when Charlie Rivel went on, and in the distance we heard a commotion.

‘I knew it,’ said Carol.

‘They’re howling like banshees.’ Kit crossed the room. ‘Poor devil!’ She opened the door and a great wave of laughter rolled in. Stunned for a moment, we looked at each other in bewilderment and then rushed to the side of the stage. We had only to watch Charlie Rivel and his fellow clowns for two minutes to realize the show would probably run forever.

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