No fooling Isla Vista jugglers

by Ada Spade

Juggle-mania hit Isla Vista, California, April 4-6. The 10th annual April Fools Jugglers Festival, hosted by the Stromboli family, gathered old friends at Robertson Gym on the U. C. Santa Barbara campus for a weekend of fun.

The Isla Vista festival is the oldest organized, continuous juggling gathering in the country besides the IJA convention. Proceeds from the Public Show were donated to the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center by festival organizers, the Stromboli Family.

Saturday found jugglers in Isla Vista's Anisq' Oyo Park, a place familiar to those who attended the 1982 IJA convention. Along with team juggling and club passing, people were unicycling, stilt walking, cracking bull whips, tossing Frisbees and kicking footbags. Ray Smith's 10 pound bowling balls, all four of them, attracted a lot of attention. Dave Williams and friends practiced two person high juggling. Club patterns involved as many as seven people.

When the weather got damp about noon, everyone headed back to the gym for more practice and play before the evening's Western Regional.IJA Championship and Public Show.

Barry Bakalor directed the champion­ship, with Cliff and Mary Spenger of Full Moon Circus acting as masters of ceremonies. The performances of nine championship competitors were interspersed with variety, comedy and other acts.

The junior championships drew three entrants. Robbie Weinstein took first place with a polished performance he has perfected over the last couple of years. Mark Bakalor and Owen Canfield were first-time competitors.

The Regional U.S. Nationals event included some dazzling performances by six competitors. Larry Merlo won first place with a routine that included his trademark ring spinning and a grand finale back flip. John Gilkey thrilled the crowd with high club tosses and quick-switch costume changes. Ray Smith awed viewers with his heavyweight juggling, including an original idea for bounce juggling bowling balls! Dan Menendez tried a promising black light routine, and David Deeble and Stefan Fisher rounded out the field.

The evening included a smorgasbord of other acts. Susie Shireman and Craig Barnes tap danced. Bob Whitcomb did ball balancing on a mouthstick. Ace Miles changed the pace of things with a suspenseful straight jacket escape. The Strombolis and friends also performed several times. Full Moon Circus were superb in many short routines between acts to allow time for performers to prepare. Besides juggling, they did a tightrope act, handstands, whip cracking, acrobatics and dog routines with their pooch Gypsey.

After the show, many jugglers returned to the gym for another late night of juggling fun. Sunday saw everyone gathered at the park for a half-day juggle and final goodbye. From an action-packed weekend, they returned home pleasantly exhausted.

IJA WESTERN REGIONAL Scoring Totals

                                       Total         Tech.          Pres.

1. Larry Merlo................68.17........25.83........42.33

2. John Gilkey................68.08........27.42........40.67

3. Daniel Menendez..... 63.35........26.77........36.58

4. David Deeble............54.00........20.50........34.00

(1/2 pt. penalty for under time)

5. Ray Smith..................44.17.........21.33.......23.33

(1/2 pt. penalty under time)

6. Stefan Fisher.............32.92........14.33........19.08

(1/2 pt. penalty under time)

Judges - Michael Kass (1980 US Nationals Champ), Ben Decker (1978 Juniors champion), Ken Falk (1985 Juniors champion), Craig Barnes, Bob Mendelsohn.

June 24-28 Durham, New Hampshire

The University of New Hampshire will host the first New Hampshire Mime Festival on the Durham Campus. The five day event includes a wide range of classes, workshops, seminars and public perfor­mances with guest artists from throughout the nation. For more information, contact Tom Scharff, c/o Theater Dept., UNH, Durham, NH 03824. .

July 25-27 Montpellier, Vermont

The Third Annual Vermont Fool's Fest is a unique gathering of almost every kind of comic performer imaginable. Includes Parade of Fools, carnival rides, learn to juggle area, fireworks, street dance, etc. Contact Montpellier on the Move, Box 1085. Dept. N, Montpellier, VT 05602.

September 20-21 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Fourth Annual Jugglers Jubilee will feature workshops and a public show. Jugglers are encouraged to set up an information booth at no cost to publicize their skills and promote bookings. Location is Plaisted Hall, #1 Boathouse Row, Kelly Drive. Contact Sid Ozer, Fairmount Park Commission, Memorial Hall, West Park, Philadelphia, PA .