Next, he did a three ball routine with exquisite juggling moves and body positioning. Michael has expanded his performance beyond juggling and dance to a magnificent frolic between props and his body. In this three ball routine, Michael used the entire stage and incorporated so many juggling patterns and body positions, it was hard to keep up.

 

Michael brought two large (30-inch) balls out on stage. These were used for juggling, and also to roll on with his body. Another ball was added and the three were used for rolling on and for juggling. This was a fabulous routine that the audience thoroughly enjoyed.

 

Next came Brian Patz. Brian did a three club routine to some fast music. A fourth club was introduced and Brian started with a club balanced on his forehead, then he did a four club high pirouette. With five clubs he included an under the leg throw and one thrown flat over the top of the pattern. His act also included a five ball routine, seven balls, three cigar boxes, five rings (with a full reverse, which looks great!), seven rings with a color change, three torches, and then five torches with a long run and an under the leg throw.

 

Jay Gilligan and his unique ring routine followed. He started the act juggling three rings in some very inventive moves. Then he brought on fourth and fifth rings to continue with more very creative juggling moves. It was obvious Jay is concerned with creating a unique act.

 

Next up came Disorderly Conduct (Scott and Joan Houghton). They did some great comedy, starting with Joan and Scott and a whip. Then Scott did some great

comedy on a slack rope-both ends of which were supported by audience volunteers. There was more humor with a kid from the audience on Scott's shoulders as he rode a unicycle. A high unicycle was brought out and Scott got laughs from trying to mount it. The act concluded with the pair of jugglers passing six clubs between them while on six foot unicycles.

 

After intermission, we saw Jay Gilligan on stage with a unicycle this time. He did a very exacting routine with highly difficult tricks on the uni. One of the highlights was when Jay, juggling three clubs, walked up to a unicycle laying on the stage, then kicked up the cycle and rode it, never losing his cascade! He also juggled four torches on a six foot unicycle. Some incredible unicycling!

 

The Mystery Juggling company, comprised of Erickson and local high school jugglers Jen Slaw, Matt Ponce-de-Leon and Rich Shielby, passed clubs in a carefully calculated spoof on educational juggling in which every move was polished and nothing was overdone.

 

Fritz Grobe. I think he has improved even more since he earned the gold medal at last summer's IJA Festival. His dynamic stage presence captivated the audience, and his moves while doing a diabolo were fantastic!

 

Then it was Michael Menes again. Michael did his staircase\elevator\moving ramp routine, performing behind a waist­high wall. He then performed an exquisite mime routine with movements behind a light that cast shadows to create special visual effects on the wall behind him.

 

To conclude the "Night of the Jugglers" show, Fritz, Jay, and Michael did a smoke­shrouded, group choreographed routine that raised flashlight manipulation to a new level and provided a fitting close to the entertaining evening.

 

It looks as if the spectacle will be an annual event from now on. Next year, if the juggling talent was as phenomenal as this year - don't miss it!

 

Cindy Marvell contributed to this article.