For Harwood junior, summer has been a circus
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Circus Smirkus trouper Al Mireault of Waterbury Center, a junior at Harwood Union High School, wows a crowd with his skills on the diabolo. In all, 26 youngsters, ages 10 to 18, perform in the show put on by the Greensboro-based circus, coming to Montpelier Wednesday. |
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By SUSAN ALLEN TIMES ARGUS STAFF - Published: August 10, 2009
MONTPELIER – Every kid probably dreams at some point of running way to join the circus.
Al Mireault of Waterbury Center made that dream a reality.
On Wednesday, Mireault will join a crew of 26 stars, ages 10 to 18, once again under the Big Top when Circus Smirkus brings its award-winning acrobatics, juggling, clowning and high-wire antics to Montpelier for the first of its final seven shows of "Smirkus Ever After: A Big Top Fairytale."
"Our famed youth circus will turn the pages on Aesop, the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson, bringing classic stories to life through the spectacle and enchantment of circus," promises the Smirkus promotional material.
Mireault portrays Rumplestiltskin. The coming shows at Montpelier High School will bring an end to a season that featured over 70 shows in 14 towns in just seven weeks.
"I saw the show in 2000. I've seen it every year since," said Mireault, who will be a junior at Harwood Union High School in the fall. "The energy of the show and the performances were unbelievable. It was just fun."
He got his first hands-on taste of circus life in the 8th grade during Crossett Brook Middle School's circus arts class. Mireault now specializes in juggling and diabolo (also known as 'the devil on two sticks), which involves a spool that is essentially juggled on a string between two hand-held sticks.
Mireault is a performance artist, and while he has learned aerial performance and gymnastics, he keeps his antics earthbound for the show.
"They've got trapeze," he promised of the 2009 show. "I'm pretty grounded, though."
One of the thrills of Smirkus is the reality that these kids are just that – kids. They aren't life-long, highly trained circus performers; instead, they are middle- and high-school students you might know, doing comedic skits, remarkable juggling routines made to look easy, and heart-pounding high-wire acts that thrill adults and children alike.
"We're all nervous for each other," said Mireault. "But to an extent, we're pretty comfortable with what we do. We wouldn't do anything that would be overly dangerous."
The young Smirkus performers this year hail from 17 states, 14 foreign countries, and six Native American nations. Some from past troupes have gone on to join bigger-name circuses like Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, the Big Apple Circus and Cirque du Soleil.
In addition to Mireault, Vermont performers are Ben Bond of Williston, Jacob Tischler of St. George, and Emma Bradford of Guildford. Artistic Director Troy Wunderle lives in Saxtons River.
Circus Smirkus was founded in 1987 in Greensboro, where it still resides, by Rob Mermin (Mermin went on to become Director of Ringling Bros. Clown College in 1995). Over the years, the performances have included participants from all over the world, and hosted famous visitors, including actor Michael J. Fox, Hollywood producer Norman Lear and his actor-friend Dom DeLuise, and writer David Mamet.
Many attend Smirkus camp to learn the basics of circus performances. Those, like Mireault, who are chosen to join the summer performance season audition for their parts and learn from professional artists.
The last public show in Greensboro on Sunday will no doubt be bitter-sweet for the troupers, who have formed a bond over the course of the season.
"I would love to go back next year. Smirkus has been an awesome experience," Mireault said. "There is an immense unity as a result of us spending so much time together. Everyone makes a lot of friends at Smirkus."
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