The Best Act I Saw This Year

[Peter Voice]

The best Act I saw this year was Neil Thomas And Katy Bowman's "MO MO" The Museum of Modern Oddities, at the opening of Melbourne's new Contemporary Museum. One of the most exquisite satires I've ever seen and an astoundingly brave programming decision by the Museum itself. The true irony is demonstrated by the fact that the museum is considering acquiring elements of "MO MO", thus legitimising the satire.

It is an ongoing project so look out for it.

Special mentions go to Hilby amd Sergei Druzhna

Hey Jim, this, maybe, should be a "Category" as opposed to a "Topic"

[This message has been edited by Peter Voice (edited 12-16-2000).]

[Adam Gertsacov]

I'm not sure what the best thing I saw this year was-- but I just saw 3 shows in NYC in 24 hours.

Barnum's Kaleidoscape
Circus Oz
Chicago.

Of the three, I'd have to give the nod to Kaleidoscape. I'm not a huge fan of either Larible or Pipo (although they are okay in this show) but the guy who does the Bow and Arrow act Guillaume Tell(?) was phenomenal! For his finale he shoots a crossbow domino that goes back and forth across the stage, starting a chain reaction that ends with an arrow through the apple on top of his head. Also great were the Golden Statues, and Picasso Jr doing Ping Pong Balls from his mouth (4!) and also doing boomerang plates. He was phenomenal with only one drop. Also, the tent and setting is phenomenal as well.

Circus Oz was good as usual, very inventive, fun, and loud. I'm amazed at how Caldwell can manage to do everything, and at the young blood who just seem to be invulnerable, strong, and flexible. Ah, youth is wasted on the young!

Chicago was kind of boring (although the trumpet player was superb, and the girls were beautiful. I want more of a spectacle...

[Brian Wilson]

I think the best act I saw this year was working the street in Amsterdam on a Wednesday afternoon in September.

We show up to the pitch and Mr. Spin was pulling a huge rocking show. Really high-technical juggling stuff, some stuff with aluminum baseball bats, and a really wacky character. Great show.

Nice work Mr. Spin.

[Dom]

The most daring act award this year surely has to go to The Happy SideShow with the Lucky Rich & Space CowBoy Sword Swallowing Stunt at Glastonbury mceed by Shep and with angle grinder assistance from Frodo..
Sheer legendary stuff!!!

[Rex Boyd]

Anthony Livingspace is alive and well and performing brilliantly in Spain. As a true "performers" performer he of course still has moments when he hasn't got a clue what he's doing. The audience still loves him for it anyway. And then the next minute he is back again with spot on clowning and enthusiasm. Every show for Tony is the most important moment of his life and he gives it his all. He's hilarious and cuddly cute at the same time.

Rex

[Blake]

I have three shows i really liked.
Pepe in Edinburgh first time i saw him.
As a performer I have great respect for his talent.

And Dirty Fred in Ghent I will never forget the look on a Belgian guys face and the shudder going though his body as Fred's banana came on his face.

Finally I witnessed the most consumate skill at the art of street performing i have ever seen in Frank Oliviers show.
If any one wants a lesson in how to really do a unicycle juggling show this guy is a master.
Sheer vaudeville cabaret and a lesson in high class performance.
neway rock on dudes
bb

[Adam Gertsacov]

Saw Michael Moschen tonight. Unfortunately he'd hurt his ankle in the first show, so couldn't perform in the second. Instead he sat in a chair and showed a couple of the pieces and their process, and talked about juggling, and his process for creating techniques.

It could have been really great if it hadn't been just 20 minutes long. He did some of the classic juggling tricks as he was explaining, and it was great to see him get a laugh doing the two in one hand and move around the third one. He is a pretty damn great juggler, even with a broken leg! (He
only sprained his ankle.)

If he had done for juggling what Scott McCloud did for Comics (Understanding Comics is a great book if you haven't read it) then it would have been totally awesome. Instead it was a kind of interesting show with a lot of potential, cut way too short.

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

I would mention Ed Stander, glass player. Ed gives wonder like no other, and brings the scent of humility to the performance. If you watch the faces of his crowds from behind him, you see people being transformed. This is the singularity. If you watch the hat, you see that his quiet act shakes 'em down, too.
Masterful.

You owe me 20 bucks, Ed.

[Peter]

The best act I have seen this year, well actually last year in 2000, was Mr. Spoons.

He is a Cincinnati OH man who started playing the spoons in bars in Cincinnati for tips back in the 30's or 40's and is still busking now after 30+ years. I understand he now lives in Manhattan and just travels around doing his performances. One Hell Of A Great Busker.

Peter

[Adam Gertsacov]

Mr. Spoons is really great. I saw him a few years ago at some benefit I did in New York City. As far as I know, he's still in NY. He's a friend of a friend.

[big underwear]

I think My act is pretty good!
though I understand that some might not nescesarily think like me, but I still feel I have a fighting chance, for example say if I die and 50 years down the road society and in particular the media descide to go balls to the wall after finding some little tid bit about me and then all of a sudden theres this mad rush to show the rest of the world how great (and over looked I was) wherein that person would win a pulitzer, and I consequently could become very very famous!!!
and now back to my vacuming.

[StrongEntertainment]

Jeff Hobson! He is currently performing in "Carnival of Wonders" in Reno. The show successfully combines cool tricks with legitimate theatre. Jeff plays the part of a Liberace-like-Magician (super flamboyant). The show has great characters, incredible costuming, unbelievable comic timing, fantastic choreography, professional lights and sound, and (you won't believe this one) a strong premise.

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Robert Strong
www.StrongEntertainment.com

[ALAKAZAM]

I saw james brown,i know he's far from being a street act but c,mon the dude is pushing 80 and he did a high energy 2 and a half hour set with 24 people on stage ,it was probably the best show i've EVER seen.you gotta respect that.
Al

[Brett Copes]

Best Show:
Peter Gross out of boston.
Awsome energy, a true pro, Very cool show. A one mane tour de force of entertainment power.
I learned more from this man about street and showmanship than any other.....

Whipboy stunt show #2!

--Brett

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[Byron Bertram]

Most Amazing street show I've seen this year I'd have to give to Tic and Tac out of New York City. I saw them do a couple of shows in Washington Square Park, and man these guys are killer. They're a couple of hard ass dudes who come as close to a street performing gang as possible. They do a break dancing, comedy show with audience participation.

What they can do with no props and only thier bodies is amazing. They gather a crowd with intimidation, and keep the crowd with a great show. I didn't even try to follow them. Hardest Core street show I've ever seen. They scared me and impressed me at the same time.