Twentieth century mime master Marcel Marceau advanced the art of the ancient Greco-Roman mime storytellers, the improvisational actors of the Commedia dell’Arte, and the pantomime of Charlie Chaplin. in this presentation, Circus Smirkus founder Rob Mermin will explore the metaphors of mime technique—what Marceau called “the silent language of the soul”—and discuss Marceau’s particular influence on the world’s cultural history.

Marceau’s unique life story encompasses not only his virtuosity on stage, but also his work in the French Resistance saving Jewish children during WWII. Rob will show film clips of Marceau’s speech accepting the Raul Wallenberg Humanitarian Award in 2001.


Rob Mermin ran off to Europe to join the circus in 1969. That year he also began his training in Paris with mime masters Marcel Marceau and Etienne Decroux. He has a degree in Drama and Literature from Lake Forest College. He lives in Montpelier, where he teaches weekly PD Mime classes.

Rob has lectured in universities around the country, performed in TV and film in Scandinavia, and directed theater and circus worldwide. He is former Dean of Clown College for Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus, President of Blackfriars Summer Theater, and Founder, in 1987, of the award-winning international touring company Circus Smirkus.

Rob’s awards include Copenhagen’s World Star-Time Gold Clown; Vermont’s Bessie Award; Russia’s Best Director Prize at The International Festival on the Black sea; The Lund Center’s It Takes A Village Award; the Vermont Arts Council Award of Merit, and the 2008 Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.