Loose Leaf Notes

-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on  April 5, 2018.

The first presentation of Floyd Varieties, included comedy skits, an animal act, an aerial silks acrobat, a female impersonator and a professional magician.

The vaudeville-inspired show, which also included a kazoo and a rubber chicken, was organized and emceed by Mim (Audra) Jeppson as a fundraiser for The June Bug Center, where the event was held.

Jeppson, who sells ukuleles in the Meadows of Dan part of the county, has played ukulele in shows from California to the U.K. and has been inspired by the creative performances she has seen.

She put out the word on Facebook about the possibility of presenting a Variety Show in Floyd and was happily surprised by the interested performing artists that came forth.

“It’s a true variety show with something for everyone,” she said, adding that she hopes to build on the first show with future biannual or quarterly shows.

Photos: 1. Amanda from Arete Pole Fitness in Salem gave a dramatic acrobatic performance with silks. Watch a clip HERE. 2. “Helen Brimstone’s” (Dillon Keith) impersonation of Lucy Ricardo brought roars of laughter.  Brimstone lip-synced a tipsy performance from a recording of Lucy as the “Vitameatavegamin” sales girl. Watch a video clip HERE. 3. Floyd Varieties organizer and performer Mim Jeppson performed with her rescue dog Poke’.   “Poke’ is the world’s smallest ukulele player and works for Cheerios,” Jeppson told the audience.  Together, Jeppson and Poke’ performed “You Are My Sunshine.” 4. “Two Fun Moms” performed a circus-like mimed skit with hoops and bubbles.

5.  “Two Fun Moms” performed a circus-like mimed skit with hoops and bubbles. See HERE. 6. Director of The Floyd Theatre Guild, Casey Worley, and Emily Gruver, a podcaster and Theatre Guild member, performed two clownish  comedic routines as the “Dynamic Duo.”  7. Micah Acord, and IT Tech by day, infused a modern take on his blues and ragtime song-and-dance numbers.

8. Professional Magician, Gartrell the Great wowed the crowd making objects appear and disappear.  Gartrell lives in Blacksburg and is finishing a Master’s Degree in Engineering at VA Tech.  9. Floyd Varieties performers take a bow.

________Colleen Redman / Our World Tuesday