Friday, March 4, 2011

The smallest show on Earth
Ed’s Amazing Flea Circus comes to Seekonk

Mya Lamonte, 10, asks "where's the flea?" while participating in a magic trick during Ed's Amazing Flea Cricus on Monday.
By George Morse, 03/03/2011
from:eastbayri.com
EAST PROVIDENCE - The circus came to Seekonk Monday night but this big top was small enough to fit inside the library’s program room. Among the circus’ star performers were Bruno, who displayed extraordinary strength, Fifi, who displayed impressive acrobatic work and Fernando, who showed off with a few daredevil maneuvers.
Not that any of these performers could be seen to the naked eye. This circus, and its stars put on their show using no more than a few feet of room. The entire circus, as a matter of fact, fit onto a small table.
It’s Ed’s Amazing Flea Circus and earlier this week, it was the feature of Seekonk Public Library’s family night.
Before the show began, a couple dozen youngsters who gathered around the stage were given a look at one of the show’s fallen performers using a small, handheld magnifying glass. Though some kids looked on eagerly, others shied away.
The man behind the flea circus is Ed Popielarczyk. Mr. Popielarczyk is a native of Florence, Mass. He works as a full-time performer. In the past, he’s put on magic shows at Seekonk Public Library, the result of a childhood hobby that turned into a profession. He is also a professional balloon artist.
“When I was in middle school I taught myself to juggle,” he said
“Then, when I was a kid, gong shows were the thing and a friend and I entered a bunch of gong shows in high school and I took up magic to add to that and juggling kind of fell to the wayside.”
The flea circus is a recent addition to Mr. Popielarczyk’s show. He said he started doing the circus about three years ago although it has always been of interest to him. Mr. Popielarczyk said the hardest part of starting the flea circus was building it.
“I like to entertain, I like to have fun with the kids, I like to get them to laugh and I use magic as a crutch to get the kids laughing,” he said.
On Monday night, the show seemed to be a hit with the young audience. The children on hand laughed and looked on as Fifi walked the tight rope and Bruno lifted playing cards. For the grand finale, Fernando was shot out of a cannon though a volunteer was able to catch him on a marshmallow.
As for where the fleas come from, Mr. Popielarczyk said he has three dogs and two cats.
For more on Mr. Popielarczyk, visit www.edpop.com

No comments:

Post a Comment