Meanwhile, back at the Street Theatre .....

Yes, oh yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am once again back at my favourite Fringe event, the street theatre. New acts, acts I have seen before, acts I definitely want to see again, filling the High Street and the Mound, attracting audiences of all ages. An open-air circus, spread across the city, inviting passers-by to stop awhile, to listen, enjoy and join in. If you can laugh, clap and cheer, if you have a sense of humour, you will love the amazing ambience created by the street performers.
Can you hula-hoop? I could, but alas no longer since my waist and my hips merged into one. But these girls can ... and with style. Standing up, laying down, balancing on one leg, they make it all look so easy. Swirling the hoops around their waist, their legs, their arms, their necks, it is almost hypnotic watching them. You may be invited to help, to "give it a go" if you dare, if you are "lucky" enough to be selected! Me? No way. Crazy I may be, but falling over in front of hundreds of people with a hula hoop wrapped around my neck is a very big no no.
Acrobats abound, as in the very best circus. Hurling themselves through the air, launching themselves at one another, balancing on arms, legs, heads ..... and I didn't see one fall, one broken bone, one bump on the head. One daredevil - or lunatic, depending on your point of view -somersaulted over a line of "enthusiastic" audience members without use of a trampet or safety net!! And it is not just the acrobats who are throwing themselves around the hard, unforgiving, unyielding concrete pavements. Oh no. The street dancers are equally as insane, spinning themselves on their heads, bouncing around on their hands, doing things with their legs no normal human being should be able to do - or indeed would want to.
I love all of this, every minute of it, from the gentle bubble-blowing bear to the crazy lady who inserted her head between the legs of one poor soul plucked from the audience for his fifteen minutes of fame. The look on his face said it all. Supported by his arms and legs and trying hard not to laugh too much in case he crumpled in a heap, what else can you do when confronted with the ungainly rear view of an upside down street performer clinging to you for dear life! Grin and bear it. How embarrassing! How wonderful! Hilarious, and so good for those of us with cameras. Poor man, how will he ever live this down - or maybe he doesn't want to. Certainly one for the grandchildren if and when they appear.
They say laughter is the best medicine and this is without doubt the case on the streets of Edinburgh at the moment. This is how these people earn their living, choosing to bring their skills to you, in the open air, away from the confines of an indoor arena. Many, if not all, are hugely talented and come from miles around to amuse and entertain. If you are lucky enough to catch any of their performances, please show your appreciation. They earn it by sheer hard work .... and they certainly deserve it.