Day 441: Roving Entertainment

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Silverwood: The Juggler

One of the most amusing characters we met during our visit to Silverwood was Bret, the resident juggler. Bret just wanders through the "dry park," entertaining the guests, the employees ... and I dare say, himself.

He wanders on Main Street, batons in hand (and in air!) putting on a show for whoever wants to stop and watch. If a small crowd gathers, he'll drag out his trunk and do a more thorough show in front of the train station. That's what we were lucky enough to catch.

Bret makes the greatest faces ... and is good about coaching his audience into saying, "Ooooooo! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" as he does his tricks. He'll quip that no audience (especially with kids) is satisfied until he juggles something dangerous.

So Bret dutifully got out the fire batons, lit them, and juggled for a bit.

The youngin's wanted more! So then out come the knives and hand grenade. He even posed for pictures while juggling these.

Not enough danger? Well, then, how about juggling with fire while jumping up and down on a pogo stick!

Then he said, "Every juggler needs to do one trick that is nearly impossible." At which time, he got out a Rubik's cube. He had an audience member mix it up. Then he solved the puzzle while juggling it with two colorful balls while keeping the crowd entertained with banter! And he managed to solve the Rubik's cube in just over five minutes.

The appreciative crowd gave him all the "Ooooooos! and Ahhhhhhhhhhhs!" he desired. Then the poor guy went off to take a break from all that bouncing around.

At the end of the day, I found Bret keeping a group of employees amused over by the Country Carnival Midway. As we walked by, I asked in a stage whisper, "Yes. But can you juggle fire?"

Bret just growled at me -- and winked.