Kitting Around

By Kit Summers

 

This year's Philadelphia Juggler's Festival attracted more than 150 participants to

Drexel Hill Middle School during the last weekend of September. The Philadelphia Jugglers Club and Jackie Erickson - who's doing two fes­tivals a year now - put together a great festival and show.

 

More than 400 people attended the public show, and Erickson acted as emcee. First up was Steve Athern, who did an enjoyable comedy bit solving the Rubix Cube while balancing a long pole on his forehead. It took some time, but he did it, and his comic approach had people on the edge of their seats. More comedy was next. Two youngsters from the Philadelphia area, Kevin and Ryan Ozolins (10 and 11 years old) did a "Dueling Jugglers" routine to the song "Dueling Banjos." They did competing tricks, then synchronized tricks, then did steals and steals with a hat. Next up were two more young jugglers, Nate Hartel and Brian McGroarty, who did a synchronized three ball routine, then passed balls.

 

Harry Kent, another youngster, did comedy juggling with an orange, lemon and apple. You know what he did with the apple! Here comes Bill Pierce, who juggled with three balls, then three balls and a tennis ball can. I saw excellent work with three balls in one hand, a four ball shower, then six balls juggled in a half shower.

 

Three, three, three... Chris Ivy did a smooth routine using three balls, three boxes, and then three torches. Five, five, five... Next was Greg Kennedy, who came out with props and simply held up five fingers. First was five balls. With a ball on his toes, he kicked up to a five ball cascade. Then I saw a half shower, reverse cascade, juggling four with one on his forehead, a neck catch, five ball cascade over his head, and a full pirouette under five.  Then five bigger balls which he did in a cascade, a shower and in a cascade with ne arm under his leg.

 

Geoff Way, riding a unicycle, slap kicked and reached down to pick up five clubs, which he eventually cascaded while riding the unicycle. A wonderful juggler, Joann Swain, was next up. She kicked up to a three ball juggle and did some superb tricks. She did a four ball kick-up and a smooth four ball routine. She did some delicate multiplex tricks using five, then a seven ball flash.

 

The wild Larry Vee closed out the first half of the show. He came on stage with a head of lettuce, apple and a cucumber dancing to the song "Eat It" (like Michael Jackson's "Beat It") .You know what he did with the apple and cucumber! Not many can do it, but then he juggled a unicycle and two basketballs. He rode a unicycle and juggled three balls while spinning a ring on his arm and doing a hula­hoop around his waist. Where does he think of these routines!? He mounted a rola bola and did a hula hoop once again, while spinning a basketball on one finger, juggling two balls in one hand, and balancing a pool cue on his chin. He had the audience build the applause with each addition of a prop.

 

The curtains parted for the second half of the show on a very nice stage setting. Mike Le Roy did a nice dance routine with three clubs, including Albert throws, kickups and Mills Mess, all to native American Indian music. He manipulated one ball with head rolls and hand rolls, spun a ball on his finger, and placed a second ball on the first. He juggled three clubs and bounced a ball on his forehead at the same time. He abandoned the ball and kicked up to a four club juggle. Then he balanced one on his chin and he did back­crosses with the other three. He kicked up to five clubs and concluded by balancing a club on his forehead and juggling five more.

 

More comedy with three clubs was next with Flip and Flop (Nate Hartel and Robin

Berry). Next Dave Schoenwolf did a technical piece to music using three balls. Philadelphia's own Juno did comedy, juggling a bowling ball, gummy bear and machete. The gummy bear jokes flew, and one ended up in his mouth.

 

Neil Stammer, part owner of The Juggling Capitol in Washington, D.C., showed that he has not lost any of his great juggling expertise. He handled a staff with some surprising martial arts moves and did a devil stick routine that included spinning the main stick on one hand stick which he held behind his back. Next, with lightning speed, he juggled three balls, and then worked his way up to seven. Greg Kennedy closed the show with an excellent routine using all the top moves with two diabolos.

 

Jackie Erickson once again put together a magnificent juggling weekend. If you can make it to any of his future events, it would be well worth your time!