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New Clowns Juggle at Graduation Exercises

By Gene Jones, New York, New York

After ten grueling weeks of what is affectionately called 'clown boot camp,' the students at Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Clown College staged a three-hour graduation performance last November 20.

Modestly billed as 'The Funniest Show on Earth,' the ambitious production featured all 57 graduates in a nonstop succession of clown gags and cameo appearances.

Juggling was featured on numerous occasions, most notably in Dave Berman's solo performance and the pieces titled 'Jazzle' and 'Space Fantasy.'

Berman performed a potpourri of juggling skills while portraying a somewhat disoriented juggler aided by two assistants in drag. 'Jazzle' was a lively five person club passing routine ably choreographed by IJA members Tom and Linda Murphy, who were instructors at Clown College this season.

'Space Fantasy' represented the most artistically creative juggling piece, as Peter Cincotta and Joseph Freeman juggled fluorescent balls in total darkness. Working sensitively to well chosen music, the pair created interesting configurations in addition to their juggling. The routine concluded with the formation of a large smile, which was greeted by enthusiastic applause, leaving the impression that blacklight juggling is a technique with great promise.

Overall, the Gala Performance showcased an impressive array of newly-learned talent by an inspired cast.

RBB&B Clown College, located at the circuses winter quarters in Venice, Florida, is one of the finest circus skills training schools available. During the ten-week session, students work 14 hours per day at physical skills, costuming, and prop building. All students interviewed were grateful for the opportunity to learn so much in so little time.

Noting that the primary purpose of Clown College is to train clowns for RBB&B's touring circuses, director Ron Severini added that it also generally upgrades the art of clowning nationwide. Severini plans to attend this summer's IJA Annual Convention to scout for talent for both the circus and Clown College.

Toss Mine Over Easy, Please!

A guide to kitchen juggling. . .

It is not long after learning to juggle that one realizes this is a most portable hobby.

You can juggle in the town square, at bus stops, in stationery stores (small glue bottles are just right), and of course, in grocery stores. A set of balls in the desk drawer at the office can make a good coffee break. Indeed, a person can practice juggling at odd moments almost anywhere. Some of my odd moments are while cooking, and the site is our snug little kitchen.

Useful hint # 1 for kitchen jugglers is to use bean bags. Brick-hard lacrosse balls are as out of place in the kitchen as... well, juggling.

The potentials of this environment were first appreciated one day when I had to open a can of pineapple. I tossed it from behind my back and caught it with the other hand. Ah! An act was born! From than day on, cooking has been only partly boring. Tossing cans before opening and jars before unscrewing thus became part of the cooking ritual.

Once I forgot that the lid on a jar had already been loosened. Fellow jugglers can anticipate hint #2: Do not ever toss an open jar of spaghetti sauce! The kitchen looked like it had measles, and I spent half an hour explaining and mopping up my error!

Music can enhance kitchen juggling, and also help screen out the noise when gravity prevails. Some things are naturally noisier than others as they crash, and hint #3 is to close the kitchen door and turn up the volume on the radio.

There are many possibilities. You cannot talk about the boiler room without mentioning eggs. The challenge of their fragility and eccentric shape is hard to pass up. Hint #4 is to have omelets in your cooking repertoire, place a skillet in the sink, and do your egg juggling over it. Occasionally, an egg will bust on the wrong side of the pan. "C'est la vie," as they say in omelet country!

Eventually the food is on the table. You have had some fun while 1) practicing juggling 2) helping the spouse 3) working up an appetite!

"Would you please pass the franks and beanbags?!"