Page 37 Summer 1993
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KITTING AROUND BY
KIT SUMMERS
His
son, Raphael, answered the door and let me in. I came in and passed
the kitchen and bathroom. Directly across from me as I entered the
big room were large windows with a great view of the Hudson River on
the west side of Manhattan. On the wall to my right was a 20-foot by
20-foot mirror covering the wall. Across from the mirror was a large
fireplace. The wood floor between them was perfect for practice.
In
one comer, away from the practice area, were two comfortable couches
in front of a large-screen TV and a video camera. Up a staircase was
a bedroom with a view of the practice area down below. The renowned
dancer Gregory Hines lives in the loft directly above this one. It
was noon on a cloudy day with the sun barely peeking through the
clouds. Overlooking the water, the beautiful loft/studio was
fantastic!
Francis
Brunn was to return to his home in 20 minutes, so Raphael and I
talked as we awaited his return. Raphael never really got into
juggling. But he has the same drive toward playing flamenco guitar
music that his father has toward juggling, and he sometimes plays
for his father in the act. Raphael, 19-years-old, picked up his
guitar and played a number, demonstrating virtuosity. Raphael also
noted that his birthday is the same day as the great juggler Enrico
Rastelli - December 19.
Francis
came into the room with a big smile. This is a man who is
tremendously passionate about life. He has reached the heights of
what can a human body can achieve. At the age of 70, he has the
enthusiasm of a man 50 years his junior. We sat at the table and
talked for quite a while.
Francis said he practices about two hours a day. Remarkably, he has had nine operations to keep his hips and other body parts working for juggling and performance. He maintains a steady, work schedule, and was leaving in three weeks for the Williams Night Club in Milano, Italy, for a two-month engagement.
He
started his amazing career with his given name, "Franzl
Brunn," in Germany at age 14, working with his sister, Lotte. In
1948 he was picked up by John Ringling North for work in America. In
the act at that time he presented the juggling of 10 rings.
In
1958 he started performing in a black outfit, juggling to flamenco
guitar and including Spanish flamenco dance steps in the act. In 1970
he received the prestigious Rastelli Juggling Trophy in Bergamo,
Italy, presented to him by Enrico Rastelli's widow, Henrica.
Some
of the people he worked with during his career were Marlene Dietrich,
Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Danny Kaye, Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis and
Elvis Presley. At the Prince of Wales Theatre in London he worked with
The Beatles, and he taught Kirk Douglas to juggle for the movie,
"The Juggler."
Having
performed in every major country in the world, he has always looked
for different ways to present his juggling. He talked about the old
days and performing on stage, and said things just aren't the same any
more. He lamented that jugglers these days all look about the same,
and suggested that many need to find different ways to present
themselves.
Looking
for another direction in his life, he recently produced a show in
Germany with top talent. Called "New York, New York," it
included his juggling nephew, Michael
Chirrick, Michael Moschen, his longtime partner Nathalie Enterline,
magician Rudy Coby, a flamenco group called Outcry, an adagio group
named Skyline, and renowned physical comedian George Carl.
We
talked about the show for a while, then who should show up but his
sister, Lotte Brunn, with her husband, Ted Chirrick. They realized
that the month represented the 45th anniversary of their arrival in
America. Lotte said her son, Michael Chirrick, was signed for an
engagement at the Meadowlands in New Jersey from mid-June into July,
and hoped that many jugglers would see him there.
After
my visit with Francis, I was off to the wedding of my old friend, Sue
Morris. She used to work for Brian Dube, and he was also at the
wedding. It was a wonderful day |