In a compelling shift from Chaposhnikov's speedy numbers juggling, the next act featured a single staff dramatically manipulated in the manner of the Peking Opera by a striking English woman named Rachel, ably accompanied by a trio of friends playing folk flutes and percussion.

 

Then came the dynamic duo of Dirk and Daniel. These two European men shared three American clubs with every conceivable take­away and some truly unbelievable gymnastic teamwork and partner acrobatics. Not to be out­done, Mr. Jones and his faithful stuffed pig, Mr. Freddy, returned for some daredevil stunts of their own, providing some farfetched foolishness and timely comic relief.

 

Kapa Troyakova, the only woman in the troika of solo Soviet numbers jugglers, brought a lithe touch to the traditional props, infusing her routine with warmth, pixie charm and deft accuracy. In comic contrast, another solo woman performer named Tash presented a truly hilarious caricature of Mildred from Milwaukee (or somewhere in Wisconsin). After engaging the crowd in some spirited call and response (frequently rebuking them for their manners and schooling them on proper Midwest etiquette), Mildred stunned us by performing ball spinning on what appeared to be her bare breast!

 

Not quite as shocking, but equally mind-boggling, was the way Henry Camus closed the show by ball juggling and playing the piano simultaneously. Elegantly attired as the consumate concert soloist, Camus strode to the piano and slid unceremoniously off the bench and onto his butt! Camus, who hails from Brooklyn but now resides in Zurich, was aided, abetted and comically indebted to his slapstick sidekick, Bruno. Bruno is a deft Italian juggler who, along with Camus and occasionally Gabbi Schmutz, comprise the highly-regarded troupe Fratelli Zucchini. With Bruno putting him through his paces, Camus played a classical number evenly alternating left-right tosses with one white stage ball. Soon he progressed to two balls, circling them in his right hand while his left laid down an infectious boogie-woogie bass line. Then he adroitly juggled the balls from right to left just in time to free his right hand and hammer the keys with ringing blues riffs.

 

For a finale, Camus and Bruno cleverly combined six clubs with at least as many languages. The result was a brilliant display of synchronized solo three club tricks and verbal gymnastics, providing a punch line for every nationality assembled.

 

European Juggling Association president Sue Hunt and vice president/emcee Lee Hayes kicked off a spirited encore by passing six clubs around His Honor, the Mayor of Verona. As the mayor flinched and the crowd roared, one by one the evening's performers formed a half-circle behind the passers. Each artist held a helium balloon in one hand and a luminous sparkler tied to the balloon's string in the other. When the cast was fully assembled, the passers finished smartly, his honor heaved a heavy sigh of relief and the entire cast released their helium balloons.

 

Picture a plethora of miniature Halley's comets soaring skyward in slow motion, buoyantly drifting over the Romanesque statues and medieval towers, transforming Piazza Dante into Disney West. The sound of the ovation, coupled with the sight of the sparklers' incandescent ascent, was truly euphoric, and a fitting climax to a spectacular public show.                             

 

Robert and Linda Peck comprise the hus­band and wife team, Foolsproof, currently living, laughing and learning in Northfeld, Mass.