49-3,p15

Jon Held Highlights

by Kit Summers

The performing arts center at Upper Darby High School, near Philadelphia, is very modem and quite nice. As I entered the building for Mr. E's Night of the Jugglers show, I was already being entertained by jugglers juggling everywhere.

Then... quiet everyone! The show is starting! We see a tight spotlight focused on the hands of someone sitting center stage on the floor. The person is unseen, dressed in black clothing. Then a ball is introduced and manipulated to music in various ways above this person's head. Still, we see only hands and the ball. I was later to find out that the artist in this graceful routine was Jon Held.

Next up, Kevin O'Keefe performed as Circus Minimus. Kevin came on carrying a suitcase, and produced from within it various items for his routine. Local jugglers Robin Berry and Jack Schultz came on next wearing bowler hats, which they maneuvered in various ways. Then these two young jugglers did suave separate routines with three clubs each before passing to each other.

Comedy time! Michael Rosman had a clownish character and showed the audience how to juggle three machetes on a special rolabola - a bowling ball! He also did three torches on this difficult perch, and did an excellent, funny, box routine.

Jon, Jon, Jon... So inventive! Jon Held introduced the audience to a large ball with a light inside which he manipulated in various ways around his body and hands. Jon also did a three club routine, including half pirouettes, throwing floaters (no spin on the clubs), doing flat fronts, throwing flats over the top, and back crosses leading to double chops.

Kevin O'Keefe was back next with Circus Minimus. I could tell that Kevin works with schools extensively. Volunteer needed! Kevin brought a youngster up and did a funny routine with balloon sculpture.

Another local juggler, Jeff Civillico, has advanced much in his juggling and performing skills since he took my "Juggling with Finesse" workshop last year. Jeff caught the audience's attention entering on a unicycle and juggling three clubs. He left the unicycle and did a three club routine including Albert throws, leg throws, chops, juggling three on one side of his body, and Mill's Mess. He also did nice routines with three and four balls, then concluded with four clubs and a dropless five clubs.

Making a return appearance, Mike Rosman emerged with a blender attached to his hat and a funny look on his face! This was a debonair, comical routine in which Mike kicks up fruit into the blender from a kick board on the floor. The battery powered blender then mixes him a martini!

Then, what's this?! A high hanging light that needs its bulb changed?! Mike came to the rescue with his ladder and more comedy.

It's a mystery... The Mystery Juggling Company featuring Jen Slaw! Using red glow balls in the dark, these mystery jugglers did fantastic routines with two balls each, then three balls each.

To conclude the show, Jon Held did the best three ball routine I have seen in years. This performance included many great tricks, but, more importantly, was structu1-ed in a way that held the audience awe-struck. The juggling was technically outstanding, smooth and entertaining. Thanks, Jon!

The emcee was again Jackie Erickson, the show's organizer and a teacher at a local school. Jackie's "Night of the Jugglers" is a top of the line production. If you get a chance to make it, you will certainly enjoy it.