Ever since my son had a hankering to pick up a sword for some playtime swashbuckling, we’ve headed to Ohio’s Renaissance Festival for a perfect fall outing. The Kamikaze Fireflies are what bring me back over and over, and are a laugh-out-loud must-see. Fortunately, this dynamic duo–Rob Williams and Casey Martin, take their unique brand of high energy comedy and daredevil antics everywhere and anywhere.
This year, one of the Kamikaze Fireflies’ anywheres was the stage of America’s Got Talent. Alas, they didn’t win but they did get a standing ovation and a rockin’ TV appearance. Nick Cannon shimmying up Rob to stand on Rob’s shoulders was part of the routine.
In between calling out for people at the Ohio Renaissance Festival to come take a seat at their performance space, promising a grand finale, Rob told me what a boost the America’s Got Talent gig has been for them.
Walking on stilts, building a tower of chairs and balancing on top, making a bologna sandwich complete with mayonnaise and a pickle using nothing but Rob’s bare feet, and getting audience members to do things like help Rob and Casey balance on top of 20-foot poles so they can juggle flaming torches as if its child’s play are part of their act that combines circus with vaudeville.
The child’s play feel is part of the routine that Rob and Casey flavor with impish glee as they work through their routines that don’t seem like work at all. No matter what they are doing, the banter between them and with the audience is a seamless flow of jokes and joshes. This was the 5th time we’ve seen them, and I found myself as charmed and delighted as ever.
With the Ohio Renaissance Festival over, the Kamikaze Fireflies are flitting elsewhere. This couple who hails from California never seems to be at home. Their next stops are:
Texas Renaissance Festival
11/1/14 – 11/2/14
11/11/12 – 11/13/14 ; 11/15/14 -11/15/14; 11/22/14 – 11/23/14
In 2015, look for them at the Renaissance festivals in Colorado, Florida, and Pennsylvania. The KamikazeFireflies’ website will have an updated list of locations and dates of their appearances.
As for me, I’ll see them again next October, an autumn pleasure I’ve come to count on.
Post and last two photos courtesy of Jamie Rhein. First photo courtesy of Kamikaze Fireflies.