ENTERTAINMENT : Class Clowns : Now children can learn how to ham it up--from creating goofy costumes and funny makeup to doing stunts.

Meet “Sneaky” the clown, also known as Brett Yorke, age 6.

His father’s blue dress shirt hangs to his knees. Around his neck is a loose tie. An old, bashed-in hat sits atop his head. One foot sports a Mickey Mouse slipper, the other a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle slipper.

He hasn’t perfected the look yet, but that’s what it’s all about in the clown classes taught by “Mr. Blue,” also known as Randall Harold.

Harold, 31, has been a clown for 13 years and just finished a stint with Circus Vargas while it was in Ventura County. When he’s not clowning, he manages the Creamery ice cream parlor in Moorpark.

Harold is in the middle of a six-week course for kids in clowning at the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District in Camarillo. Starting July 10, he will offer another series at the Moorpark Community Center for kids 5 to 12 years old.

“Kids are such hams,” he said as he prepared for his class in Camarillo recently. He was in full dress: patched overalls and pink long underwear, black oversized shoes, checkered scarf, feather duster in his pocket, straggly black wig, blue nose, turned-down mouth and black tear drops.

“I devote my life to Emmett Kelly,” he said, without so much as a wink.

In his class he gives the kids a smattering of clown history, and Kelly, the famous hobo clown of the Depression years, figures in big. Harold teaches the children to create their own clown characters.

“I ask them what they’re interested in school,” he said. If it’s baseball, for instance, he might suggest a clown designed around a baseball theme.

During the first class they draw the clown face they would like to have, and they give it a name. For the second class, they bring or wear the clothes, wig and other paraphernalia for their costume. Harold shows them how to apply make-up, and each receives a little make-up kit.

In the third week, Harold shows them a few simple magic tricks. Then, in the juggling class, his students bring three scarves and three tennis balls. In yet another class, he teaches them how to paint faces on their friends and how to create balloon animals.

The finale is graduation day. He erects a circus tent and invites parents and friends to see the little clowns perform. Each hams it up for three to five minutes before receiving a diploma in “Tomfoolery.” Parents are asked to bring circus food--popcorn, peanuts--for the event.

Harold said this form of exposure boosts the children’s self-esteem. “They want to be noticed.”

They learn a little about acting, as well. Harold teaches them pantomime, clown stunts, how to fall without hurting themselves, and how to make facial expressions. He gives them situations to act out.

“Last week we worked on walking,” he said, imitating what he called a prissy girl’s walk.

There were no shrinking violets at his Camarillo class that day.

Kyle Sherry, 8, is known as a practical joker around his Camarillo home, according to his mother.

“He dropped an ice cube down my shirt and walked away,” Renee Sherry said.

The clown face he drew had wild green hair, a brown face and yellow mangled teeth.

“He hasn’t brushed them in a long time,” Kyle confided.

Eric Larson, 6, of Somis showed up for the class in a carefully coordinated costume: blue silk shirt, wide yellow belt, flashy pants and red beret.

“He did it all himself,” said his mother, Beverly Larson. “We went to the thrift store and he picked out what he wanted to wear. This is right up his alley. He wants to be a professional clown.”

Harold patiently applied face make-up on all the children, showing them little tricks, like how to create the stubble look by blotting their chins with a sponge.

He joked with them. “You’re doing a good job. I’m going to give you a big pat on the back,” he told one boy who was adeptly putting on make-up in front of a lighted mirror. Then he patted his own back, and they giggled.

Meanwhile, Brett’s mother, Claudia York, watched as Harold transformed her son’s face into “Sneaky” the clown.

“My make-up will no longer be safe,” she said.

* WHERE AND WHEN

“Mr. Blue’s” six-week class on clowning at the Moorpark Community Center, 799 Moorpark Ave., runs from July 10 through Aug. 14. Classes are on Fridays from 1 to 2 p.m. Cost is $40. Call 529-6864 for information.