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FROM
LINDSAY LESLIE in Scotland On
November 27, newcomer to the IJA, juggler and yo yo expert Mark
Robertson, age 14, certainly made his mark, by being one of the eight
finalists in the well known British talent show called "Butlins
Star Trail". Although he did not win one of the top prizes ranging
from 1000 pounds downwards, it was a remarkable achievement for a
juggler to reach the grand finals considering the many thousands of
entertainers who struggle through the heats
for a place in this once-a-year event. [Editor's note: Lindsay enclosed
a news clipping which stated "The overall standard was extremely
high, with a predominance of vocal/instrumental acts and only one
specialty -- a juggler, Mark Robertson -- whom one felt
deserved more praise than he got. However, to have arrived at the Final
at all, considering the thousands of entries received, is a considerable achievement."
It
is interesting to learn that Mark is a yoyo'ist as well a juggler -- many
of you will remember another expert yoyo'ist, Tom McCoy, who dazzled us
with his skill at the L.A. convention two years ago.] I also got a
letter from Bob Menary (of Northern Ireland) who saw mark on a TV show
over here called "The Swop Shop". This is excellent work for
the lad, and I look forward to meeting him at the Eurpopean
mini-convention in April. Elsewhere
in this issue Lloyd Timberlake gives a report on the 1977
Circus World Championships held in December in London. Here are
some detailed recollections of two of the juggling acts as broadcast on
television of Britain's National Network.
The German juggler, Bob Bramson, used two sizes of hoops in his act, possibly 12 inch diameter and 24 inch diameter. He started with a combination trick with one large hoop balanced on his forehead, one small hoop spun on one leg, and four small hoops in a half shower thrown parallel to his shoulders. Then he did four large hoops rolling over his back. There follow illustrations of both of these tricks.
have
seen three hoops rolled over the back
as shown, but never four. There was very little clearance between the
hoops, probably only six inches or less, and the juggler had to have
perfect control. He did other tricks in between these two, but I have
mentioned those that caught my fancy. Next came what was probably a
seven hoop cascade (it might have been more), and then his assistant
started to feed him with large hoops rolled along the ground as he
performed several formations with the hoops rolling on the ground as
shown.
For
these formations the TV camera took overhead
shots but they looked equally good from the ground camera. Finally he
finished by back spinning eight large hoops which, when the back spin
took, encircled a small pen before entering the pen through its gate.
It
was a very original act with no mistakes or drops and his assistant
helped with the continuity of the act which flowed very smoothly, making
it all look simple and effortless. Kris Kremo started with a cigar (i.e., a mouth stick which looked like a cigar) and a bowler hat. The bowler hat went behind the back to the cigar. Cigar to foot. Foot to cigar. Cigar to head. Next the top hats in a very fast routine which only slowed down to do brim bounces or bouncing top hat off head several times. He did not do his three ball routine but finishes with three cigar boxes using all the regular moves plus some of his own, plus three pirouettes leaving three boxes and finally ended doing three cigar boxes in reverse cascade, flat side of boxes to audience. I have now seen him perform on four major British TV shos and can only say he is the master of three balls, three hats, and three cigar boxes. They just come to life in his hands. |
