Hold On To Your Hat

Center Ring Superstar Takes a Daring Plunge

The performance that won Grand Prize at the recent International Circus Festival was Peruvian superstar Fridman Torales' signature act, the Rolla Bolla. What's a Rolla Bolla? Well, it sounds simple enough. Lay a board across a rolling cylinder and balance on it. Easy, you say? How about stacking the rolling cylinders five-high? Kids, don't try this one at home

Fridman's other specialties are the Pase de la Muerte and the Soaring Bungee Trapeze. You can watch him do all three as he takes on what he considers to be two of the most exciting roles of his career, the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter in Circus Chimera's amazing new circus-themed production of Alice In Wonderland.

"We know all about Alice in Peru," he says. "I was a circus brat, growing up backstage while my parents toured the Andes. Alice was a big favorite. After all, what heroine better symbolizes the amazing acrobatics of the circus than one who's always growing bigger and smaller?"

And what does Fridman Torales envision will be his greatest challenge playing the Mad Hatter? "Keeping that hat from falling off," he laughs.

As you can tell, he'll have no problem with the Cheshire Cat's cynical smile.

Circus Chimera tickets may be ordered by phone (1-888-663-7464) or online (www.circuschimera.com)