Karamazov Brothers return to Palindrome Feb. 16-18

Posted 2/6/24

By Kirk Boxleitner

 

Their name recalls Russian culture, but their roots and lineup of performers tie heavily into Port Townsend.

Chen Pollina and Tomoki Sage, of the NANDA …

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Karamazov Brothers return to Palindrome Feb. 16-18

Posted

By Kirk Boxleitner

 

Their name recalls Russian culture, but their roots and lineup of performers tie heavily into Port Townsend.

Chen Pollina and Tomoki Sage, of the NANDA Acrobaticalist Ninja Theatre in Port Townsend, will become Chenovski and Tomoski Karamazov, and will join Paul Magid and Jeremiah Meyer (a.k.a. Dmitri and Zukov Karamazov) to perform as “The Flying Karamazov Brothers” from Friday, Feb. 16, through Sunday, Feb. 18, at The Palindrome on Arcadia Estates.

Their show, “50 Years of Juggling and Cheap Theatrics,” will be staged on land that’s now home to the Eaglemount Winery and Cidery, but which was once home to The Flying Karamazov Brothers, who remodeled the venue more than three decades ago, to serve as a rehearsal and performance space for their group.

Danny Milholland, director of operations for The Production Alliance, deemed the February event “a celebration of our dynamic and eccentric history, unique creativity and massive talent (that’s) not to be missed.”

Magid, the only remaining Karamazov Brother from that era, fondly recalled some of their history.

“Before the property was condemned in the 1970s, it had been a brothel where people did deals during Prohibition,” Magid said. “After we bought it, we reopened the old dance barn at Arcadia in 1987 to serve as a community space. We even attached the facility that had hosted the yacht club, which became Eaglemount.”

The Flying Karamazov Brothers ran the place until 1992, and while they returned to Port Townsend for the New Old Time Chautauqua Holiday Benefit Show of 2016, it’s been more than 30 years since they graced The Palindrome with a new full-length production of their own.

“It’s all still so familiar that, when I’ve walked through the space just recently, I’ve found myself looking for things that aren’t there anymore,” Magid said. “It’s wonderful to come back and see that it’s remained a community space, where musicians perform and couples get married. I’m very happy to return, and see that Port Townsend has followed in the spirit of our footsteps.”

Magid invited prospective attendees to take him up on a signature “gamble” challenge, during which the Brothers bet a standing ovation against a pie in the face that they can juggle any three objects that the audience brings, then selects.

Magid himself, as the self-proclaimed champion of the “gamble,” is afforded three attempts to juggle the objects in question, for at least 10 counts.

“The objects have to be no lighter than an ounce, no heavier than 10 pounds, and no bigger than a breadbox,” Magid said, adding that, as champion, he’s allowed three modifications. “The objects also cannot be a live animal, or anything that will keep me from being a live animal. We challenge you, Port Townsend!”

Milholland touted The Flying Karamazov Brothers as four “eccentric savages, spicing things up with laugh-out-loud comedy, cheap theatrics, arcane errata and astonishing juggling feats,” who are returning to Port Townsend after traveling the world, and appearing on Broadway, television and the big screen.

For more information,visit theproductionalliance.org/events/flyingkaramazovbrothers online.