Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Captivates Audience

The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus performed a fascinating show for the Westminster community in the Werner Centennial Center on March 27 as part of the Graham Gund ’59 Visiting Artist Series. Students and faculty clapped and cheered as a clown, a juggler, an acrobat and unicycle riders took turns performing dazzling acts on stage. Ringmistress Philomena (Stephanie Monseu, co-founder of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus) hosted the spectacle with the musical accompaniment of Cirkestra, the orchestra. Cirkestra was led by Ringling Clown College graduate and Boston Berklee College of Music instructor Peter Bufano on his accordion.
 

The cast featured the King Charles Troupe performing unicycle tricks and skillful basketball stunts; Mike “Richterscale” Richter walking a wire spanning across the length of the stage; Mr. Pennygaff (Keith Nelson, co-founder of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus) demonstrating his sword-swallowing routine with the help of Christi DeSimone ’12; Philomena demonstrating a target bullwhip act with the help of faculty member Scott Berry; Ekaterina, a contortionist, acrobat and aerialist, performing an aerial display; and Adam Kuchler juggling and stacking cigar boxes into feats of masterful manipulation.
 

The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus has been presenting the variety arts — circus, sideshow and vaudeville — to audiences across America and around the world for 18 years. It says it spells circus with a “k” to pay tribute to the rich heritage of European one-ring spectacle and because it weaves the threads of American vaudeville and sideshow into its performances.