 By 1812 , despite Grimaldi 's success as a performer , he was close to bankruptcy as a result of his wife 's extravagant spending , a number of thefts by his accountant and the cost of maintaining both an idyllic country lifestyle and his son JS 's private education . The strain on Grimaldi 's finances caused him to accept as many provincial engagements as he could . That year , he travelled to Cheltenham and appeared again as Scaramouche in a revival of Don Juan . In nearby Gloucester he met the poet Lord Byron , on whose poem the play was based , at a dinner party . Byron was in awe at meeting the famous Clown , stating that he felt " great and unbounded satisfaction in becoming acquainted with a man of such rare and profound talents " . Grimaldi returned to London to star as Queen Ronabellyana with much success in the Covent Garden Christmas pantomime , Harlequin and the Red Dwarf ; or , The Adamant Rock . After this , he increasingly played " dame " roles . 
