Karamazov Brothers to Revel on Orcas

Sunday, May 29 at 7 p.m. at the Odd Fellows Hall

— by Margie Doyle –[metaslider id=43861]

The Orcas Odd Fellows will host an evening with “The Flying Karamazov Brothers” on May 29 for the purpose of supporting their “New Old Time Chautauqua” summer tour to benefit Washington State Parks.

Paul Magid, founder (in 1973), director and producer one of the original Karamazov Brothers talked to local reporters recently about their May 29 appearance at the Odd Fellows Hall.

The Flying Karamazov Brothers, last seen on Orcas about 10 years ago, have been committed since 1981 to the summer Chautauqua Tours to rural communities throughout hte Northwest and Alaska to promote local talent, history and culture.

“Chautauquas” first entered American civic entertainment about one hundred years ago as a variety show extravaganza that traveled from town to town to entertain communities. The “New Old Time Chautauquas” will be partnering with the local communities near each park offering community shows at senior centers, prisons, and hospitals, parades through town, over 25 workshops, a museum exhibit on Chautauqua and Washington State Park history, and capping it all with a Vaudeville extravaganza featuring their 25-piece band and nationally known acts. It is the mission of this collaboration to bring new understanding, knowledge, and excitement to the connection of communities and their nearby parks.” (from www.chautauqua.org/2016summertour.shtml)

The Flying Karamazov Brothers Chaugauquas combine the variety show that will be performed at the Odd Fellows Hall with parades, workshops and service projects, usually over two days. Some of their recent projects were installing firepits, tending Tlinkit cemeteries, and trash disposal. Their summer tour of seven State Parks is to increase awareness of the State Parks Program. There will be workshops by Park staff, a potluck dinner, a parade with local bands, and Chautauqua workshops in such skills as juggling, hula hoops, and sheet folding.

The Karamazov Brothers started juggling for fun in their college dorms at University of California/Santa Cruz, where Magid graduated as valedictorian in English Literature and Muslim Studies. A descendant of World War II Holocaust survivors, he feels a deep connection and commitment to First Nation American Natives. Several of the state park events this summer will take place on traditional native lands that have been taken over in the last century and a half, such as the Nez Perce lands at Lewis and Clark Trail State Park; and Yakima lands at Fort Simcoe State Park.

With a changing cast of troupe members, the Flying Karamazov brothers started out as street buskers and opening acts for other shows. They’ve traveled the world with performances from Las Vegas to London, with stops in . Their signature act is juggling, sometimes knives, sometimes chairs. A signature part of their show is “The Gamble: where they take on a challenge from their audience to juggle three wildly different items, such as a salt shaker, a bottle of champagne and a ukulele.

The New Old Time Chautauqua that will be given at the Odd Fellows Hall on May 29 won’t include the aerial aspects of their act, but will include performances by:

Master delusionist Joey Pippia
Incredible hooper Ty Vennewitz
The incomparable Godfrey Daniels
Poet Kevin Murphy
The Amazing Noodlini
Singing duo Pepper Jill & Jack
The Fighting Instruments of Karma Marching Chamber Band / Orchestra.

Magid and the Karamazov Brothers are a testament to the maxim “the show must go on,” even though he says, with a hearty laugh, “almost every day something goes horribly wrong.” He recalls the time he missed as he took a leap to a rope and fell 30 feet in front of a live audience. It reminded him of the “Wiley Coyote-Road Runner” cartoon as the coyote seems to freeze in mid-air after falling off a cliff. When he landed, fortunately on a wooden floor, his partner asked him, “‘Are you all right?”
He managed to gasp “yes” and finish the last 10 minutes of the show.

Now in his 60s, Magid says he doesn’t believe in retirement, “As long as you’re having fun and making things happen — why retire when it’s fun?” For over 40 years he has written all the shows, sometimes one a week, and plays for thier performances on and off-broadway, at the Venetian in Las Vegas,

On Orcas, the New Old Timers — up to 60 troupe members — plan to camp in a field off Enchanted Forest Road. More than half the performers are professionals, and those interested in being a part of the summer Chautauquas can contact the Flying Karamazov brothers at any time through www.chautauqua.org/2016summertour.shtml.

Tickets to the May 29 Odd Fellows show on Orcas are available at Darvill’s Bookstore and at the door. Ticket prices are $12 in advance, $15; at the door and $5 for children under 12.

The New Old Time Chautauqua will be coming to Anacortes and San Juan Island as well as Orcas over the Memorial Day weekend to put on shows to benefit this summer’s tour:

Friday 5/27 in Anacortes, 7:00 pm
Brodniak Hall (Anacortes High School)
Saturday 5/28 in Friday Harbor, 7:30 pm
San Juan Community Theater

The New Old Time Chautauqua/State Parks Tour runs: