Chaplin akatenda kuti simba rake rokutanga raiva amai vake, avo vakamufadza semwana nokugara pahwindo uye kutevedzera vanhu vaipfuura: "Kwakanga kuri kuburikidza nokumuona kuti ndakadzidza kwete chete kuti ndingaratidza sei manzwiro nemaoko angu uye chiso, asiwo maitiro ekucherechedza uye kudzidza vanhu". Makore ekutanga aChaplin mumimhanzi yemimhanzi yakamubvumira kuona vatambi vemitambo vari kushanda; akaendawo kuChristmas pantomimes paDrury Lane, kwaakadzidza unyanzvi hwekuita clown kuburikidza nevatambi vakaita saDan Leno. Makore aChaplin nekambani yaFred Karno aiva nemigumisiro yekugadzira paari semutambi uye mufirimu. Simon Louvish anonyora kuti kambani yaive "nzvimbo yake yekudzidzira", uye yaive pano kuti Chaplin akadzidza kusiyanisa nhanho yekuseka kwake. Pfungwa yekuseka ne slapstick yakadzidziswa kubva kuna Karno, uyo aishandisawo kutarisa uye kudzidza vanhu.
Max Linder