THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 8, 1994 TAG: 9410080304
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Jim ``Alberti'' Hobbs knows that believing is seeing.
Hobbs, ringmaster of the Alberti Flea Circus, introduced his troupe of trained fleas to the spectators gathered around his stage at Suffolk's Peanut Fest on Friday morning.
``Don't worry, moms,'' said Hobbs, an illusionist and entertainer. ``These fleas are trained professionals. They're not going to bite.''
He carefully picked up Paddy O'Reilly Shaughnessy with long, yellow tweezers and held him up for the children and adults to see, quickly passing the pinhead-sized performer in front of one pair of eyes, then another.
Too fast. A few doubters failed to catch a glimpse.
People frequently question whether there really are any fleas.
``Of course there are fleas,'' said Hobbs. ``If you don't see them, just stand closer.''
He placed Paddy on a tiny table on his worn, red stage in the sunlight-drenched field. Like a good Irish insect, the miniature performer proudly waved a tiny Irish flag with its green, white and red stripes.
Another flea, Harry the Hurdler, needing coaxing to persuade him to jump over barrels, lined up on the stage.
``Fleas have very, very tiny ears,'' said Hobbs, a former college professor who got the itch to try something new about seven years ago. ``If you want him to do something, you have to tell him very, very loud.''
In unison, the crowd roared, ``Jump, jump.''
Hobbs, 56, needed an assistant to hold a hoop for Merlin to jump through.
``I need somebody wearing black and white shoes and a red tie,'' he said.
Seven-year-old Slater Johnson, a second-grader from Norfolk, fit the bill and hopped onto the stage. The red tie was important, Hobbs said, because that's what Merlin was wearing for the performance.
``Slater, do you know how we tell one flea from another?'' Hobbs asked, while holding the silvery hoop high in his right hand.
The youngster shook his head, his dark brown eyes as big as saucers.
``By their costumes,'' said the showman, wearing a red shirt, black bowler and a brass-buttoned vest. But as Hobbs handed the ring to his assistant, it became a square. Hobbs took it back and it became round again. He tried once more, but again the ring collapsed. Finally, Hobbs handed him a small, thick ring and on the count of three, Merlin jumped through and into Slater's left hand.
But the elusive insect had disappeared by the time Hobbs tried to retrieve him with his tweezers. Fortunately, the stuntman found his acrobatic wonder hiding on Slater's collar and plucked him from his shirt, thankful he wouldn't have to train another performer.
Next, Hobbs introduced dare-devilish Captain Spaulding, who braced for his trick - being shot from a cannon.
A young boy in a maroon sweater jumped as the miniature canon ``boomed.''
``That scared me,'' said the youngster, about 3 years old.
The flea-ring circus performs six times a day at Peanut Fest in the children's activity area off Boose-nut Lane, just past the main entrance.
Hobbs, who had traveled to the show from his home in Winston-Salem, N.C., was delighted with the sunny day and the turnout at his first Suffolk show.
``What a festival,'' he said. ``It takes your breath.'' ILLUSTRATION: A little troupe just itching to star
JOHN H. SHEALLY II/Staff
Jim Hobbs, ringmaster of the Alberti Flea Circus, left, is assisted
by Southwestern Elementary School student Jeffrey Johnson Friday
during a performance at Suffolk's Peanut Fest.
by CNB