We spent the 2nd Day of Christmas (December 26) at the home of German friends. There I was asked what I thought about the film “Dinner for One,” a film where a 90 year-old woman is served a birthday dinner by her butler. I’d never hear of it. Turns out it is an 11 minute long British film (in English) from the 1960s which has something of a cult-following in Germany, as well as a few other northern European countries. As a result, it holds a Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s most frequently broadcast film—apparently it is better known than The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It has never been broadcast in the US or UK, though. If you don’t believe me, check out The German news magazine Spiegel’s story here. Or, better yet, you too can join the cult, and see the film on You Tube here.
I will admit to not generally getting the “British humor” of the film (or for that matter Monty Python). But so it goes. I am assured that anyone that likes Monty Python will be rolling on the floor over this film. The really interesting thing is that such an English film could become so popular in a country where English is not the home language!

An old performing friend of mine, Steve Russell will be making his New York City Opera debut at Lincoln Center next month. He has been cast as understudy in a production of Pagliacci with the NYC Opera. Even though he is the understudy, he will be certain to go onstage on October 11 and 19th. You never know when the other juggler/fire-eater will contract some mysterious illness…. or a mysterious illness brought on by the understudy.

This is a picture from about 198o or 81 at the International Mine and Movement festival when he and I were attending master classes with the Avner Eisnenberg. Steve is on the far left, and I am the guy 2nd from the right in the bushy hair.

Congratulations Steve!

For those of you that don’t know of my rambunctious history as a performer. I knew Steve during my 9+ years as a professional performer. I have been a juggler, fire-eater, stilt-dancer, contortionist, several Irish bands, and more and less savory skills. In fact, I learned my juggling and fire-eating from Steve! You may have seen me at festivals and theme parks, or performing on the streets of Chicago, St. Louis, NYC, D.C among others. Where ever I could drop a hat and people stopped to watch the potential of seeing a man set himself on fire. But, it was indeed a living.