Do you know where a 34-year-old, high centre of gravity, unbalanced (physically AND mentally), lanky guy should be?
Probably not standing on the shoulders of another man while smashing tennis balls to a crowd of 13,000 people in Bethlehem!
That was me on Saturday night. I wasn't even drinking!
Iwas on the shoulders of 'Elfie' the Christmas Elf from Circus in a Flash as the MC at A Night Before Christmas at Bethlehem College. A massive crowd turned up to see the annual variety show of everything from kids telling jokes, to some ofthe best operatic voices you've ever heard belting out carols, a massive fireworks display one of the most entertaining covers bands I've seen for a long time—Late 80's Mercedes.
But star of the night was Elfie. As an MC you do fun things with the crowd and give away prizes—which is where smashing tennis balls comes in. When you've got a man dressed as an elf next to you who is as comfortable walking on his hands as he is his feet, can ride a unicycle better than you can ride a bike, back flips on command, sings, juggles anything and teaches my baby-giraffe body to stand on his shoulders without broken bones and embarrassment it's surprisingly easy to entertain a crowd.
Rowan/Elfie is an amazing guy and not only talented at all things circus. He runs a business in entertainment for parties and events across the country — including superhero kids parties — so patience of a saint too — has a wife and children in Welcome Bay, and a flat in Auckland because he has to spend so much of his time there working.
He's providing for his family, working in a community he loves, teaching people how to do things that are truly amazing and a funny dude. The world needs more elves.
What could possibly go wrong... Will Johnston smashes tennis balls into the crowd atop and elf. Photo/supplied
