Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Maine Dates #7


DSC00749, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Vladimir and Ulga, quick change

Anonymous said...

Actually, the Smirnovs, Vladimir & Olga, both Russian. -- Bill Hall

Roger Smith said...

Are these the people who recently did the quick change on American Idol, or one of those competition shows? Whoever they were, they created a sensation with the finale when the shower of glitter brought on a last amazing change of the girl's gown.

dpowhitetiger said...

"SMIRNOVS"
The Best Four Minutes in Show
BUSINESS.

Don said...

Roger,

The quick change act that appeared on "America's Got Talent" was David and Dania, not the Smirnovs. The final illusion in both acts (and in just about every other quick change act around) involves a shower of glitter confetti.

Don Covington

24-HOUR-MAN said...

The first act of this type I saw was in Krone's Winter program, possibly Smirnovs, as it was an older couple. They had an air about them,(I think because of their age & experience), that put them above the rest I've seen.

Don said...

Bill,

That act that you saw on Krone was probably the Sudarchakovi, who are said to have originated the idea of the contemporary quick change routine. Their act combined ballroom dancing with illusions and was both elegant and spellbinding. They headlined with the Moscow Circus and created a sensation when they brought the act to the West. Their children continue to present a similar quick change act today. The elder Sudarchakovi appeared in the United States with Big Apple Circus.

Don Covington

Anonymous said...

The Smirnovs originally did a balancing perch pole act, where Vladimir balanced Olga on a pole on his forehead, while she stood absolutely motionless, and he climbed up and down a ladder. Vladimir said he finally had to give up the act because his neck muscles couldn't take it anymore. That's when they debuted their quick change act. Their perch pole act was one of the best that I've ever seen.
Neil Cockerline
Minneapolis, MN