Fred Garbo is full of hot air ? well, his props are, anyway.
With dancer Daielma Santos, Garbo juggles, wigglesand bounces his way across stages in large, colorful inflatable shapes, all part of the Fred Garbo Inflatable Theatre Company. “It?s our job as performers to inflate these objects with life,” Garbo said.
With more than 17 blow-up costumes built from scratch, including an Airedale terrier and large man named “Fred Zeppelin,” Garbo and Santos have their work cut out for them. “Each piece would be nothing unless we breathe life into them. One is a big red cube that we actually make come alive. I think we get points for being clever.”
Garbo and Santos will be performing at the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts as part of their family series. Director of Performing Arts Thomas Fridrich was sold on the show when his 3-year-old son became entranced with Garbo?s promotional video. “I think the younger the kid, the more fascinating the show is to them because they are very large, very colorful objects,” he said. “But [Garbo] is also an excellent juggler, and the acts are almost jaw-dropping. It has a very nice artistic quality to it that I think a lot of other shows don?t have.”
? Emily Campbell
