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FESTIVALS

Nose Harmonicas and All, Jugglers Return to Amherst

More than 250 jugglers attended the ninth annual Return to Amherst Miniconvention in early April.

During the 48 hours of non-stop open juggling, there was always something exciting happening on the floor of the Hampshire College gymnasium. Among the activities were workshops on cigar boxes with Jeff Mason, ball spinning led by Mark Nizer, performing with Lee Moss, and a tremendous advanced club passing demonstration by Greg Moss, Mason, Jack Kalvan and others.

In addition to the scheduled events of the weekend, the following highlights were observed on the gym floor:

· an impromptu six and seven ball timed numbers competition

· Cyrus Koski jumping rope on a unicycle

· Nizer rolling a ball all around his face and head

· several games of combat

· an incredibly rhythmic devil stick demo by Peter Nipar

· Daniel Looker spinning a plate on a mouthstick and six rings around his arms while standing on a free-standing ladder. He also juggled five balls on the ladder.

The true highlight of the weekend, however. was the public show. A crowd of 400 enjoyed Joe Murray as MC as he told jokes and did an amazing escape from a straightjacket - which turned out to be held together by Velcro!

Mason led off the show with a routine that included three balls, three cigar boxes and his patented two diabolos on one string. Cindy Friedberg followed with five balls and five clubs, and Manual Transmission passed up to nine clubs. In addition to some nice hat work, clown Michael Trautman balanced on his chin a 4x8-foot table top, the show's sound system, and, remarkably, an eight-year-old child on a chair. Nizer ended the show with three balls, three clubs and up to five ping pong balls in his mouth.

Since so many other jugglers wanted to perform, a midnight comedy cabaret was organized. But juggling wasn't the main order of business at this show. It featured an odd array of performances, including:

· Friedburg reciting poetry while dropping 10 balls

· An exciting handstand endurance contest won by Koski

· the unusual trio of Juggle Commie Jazz

· and jln unidentified musician who played the harmonica with his nose, and also

while it was completely in his mouth!

The exciting weekend of fun and entertainment was sponsored by the Pioneer ValIey Jugglers and organized by Sue Kirby, Carol Gagnon and Paul Richmond. Thanks to the good work of these and others, it was a tremendous weekend of fun.