Interview: Australian street performer The Human Knot tangles with Oklahoma City’s Festival of the Arts
Comedian, contortionist and daredevil Al Millar, 34, brings his high-energy performs his high-energy show Thursday during the Festival of the Arts. As the event's official street performer, the native Australian known as "The Human Knot" is doing his act three times a day at the festival. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Comedian, contortionist and daredevil Al Millar, 34, juggles three long knives while holding a specially made blade in his mouth during his high-energy performs his high-energy show Thursday during the Festival of the Arts. As the event's official street performer, the native Australian known as "The Human Knot" is doing his act three times a day at the festival. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
From Friday’s The Oklahoman. To view a video of The Human Knot performing, click here.
The Human Knot tangles with the Festival of the Arts
Australian contortionist/comedian Al Millar is bringing is jaw-dropping feats of flexibility and daring to downtown Oklahoma City as the event’s official street performer.
After practically twisting himself into the proverbial pretzel to perform “contortionist pushups,” juggling a small running chainsaw and cracking up the crowd with his cheeky jokes, Al Millar’s grand finale involves perching on a 12-foot pole and keeping three long knives and himself in the air while his specially made “Triple-Trouble, Double-Ended Ice Axe Blender Blade” twirls over his head like a perilous propeller.
“If you like the show, tell your friends. If you did not like the show, keep it to yourself. No one likes a whiner,” he joked Thursday afternoon before he put the handle of the homemade blade in his mouth and sent it spinning.
Apparently, this is what going to work looks like when you’re an internationally known contortionist/comedian with the stage name ALAKAZAM and the job description “The Human Knot.” And, really, it must be seen to be believed.
Comedian, contortionist and daredevil Al Millar, 34, juggles a small chainsaw during his high-energy performs his high-energy show Thursday during the Festival of the Arts. As the event's official street performer, the native Australian known as "The Human Knot" is doing his act three times a day at the festival. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
The native Australian is this year’s official street performer for the Festival of the Arts, which means three times a day during downtown Oklahoma City’s annual “rite of spring,” he does his feats of flexibility and daring in the clearing between Stage Center and the food and artists tents. The festival’s tradition of hosting street performers goes back to at least the 1970s, said Emily Trotter, communications manager for festival organizers the Arts Council of Oklahoma City.
“It’s the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen for a street performer here. It’s very entertaining,” Trotter said Thursday as people gathered on bleachers, curbs and grassy spots to watch “The Human Knot” tangle and untangle himself. “He’s not just juggling bowling pins here, folks.”
Along with juggling knives, balls and a little chainsaw and scaling the Chinese circus pole with the help of a couple of volunteers, Millar’s act involves wriggling his entire 6-foot, 155-pound physique through the frame of an unstrung squash racquet. “No way!” squealed several students from Mustang Creek Elementary Thursday afternoon as they watched Millar squish and squirm his torso and limbs to maneuver the small round of plastic from his head to his feet, all while spouting self-deprecating, occasionally bawdy one-liners.
“I just like to try all kinds of stupid stuff. … This is not for everyone,” Millar said, laughing as he explained how he started with his racquet trick after the show. “There’s lots of things I’ve tried that didn’t work.”
Members of the audience, including Darrell Beavers of Oklahoma City, help Al Millar down from the 12-foot-tall Chinese pole after his act. A comedian, contortionist and daredevil known as "The Human Knot," Millar, 34, is the official street performer at the 2012 Festival of the Arts. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Millar, 34, began his street performing career in 1996, but adds, “I was born this way.” From a young age, he realized he was double jointed and particularly flexible, and in elementary school, he proved a natural entertainer. He has honed his skills through years of street performing and vigorous training.
“The audience interaction, that takes time. That takes a lot of learning,” he said. “I can teach you to juggle in about an hour, but to learn to attract an audience and hold an audience, that takes years.”
Along with performing on the international festival circuit since about 1999 — he typically tours from March through October — Millar was a runner-up on the TV show “Australia’s Got Talent” in 2007 and made an appearance last year on “America’s Got Talent.” He has performed for the likes of Sting, Bruce Springsteen and Woody Harrelson.
After the Festival of the Arts, he has gigs coming up in Germany, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Iceland and Canada. Making his first visit to Oklahoma City, Miller said he has enjoyed the friendly people. One festival-goer even gave him a ticket to Tuesday’s Thunder game after catching a performance.
“I find it excellent. Like the crowds here are amazing … they’re really loud and responsive just great audiences, laughing at everything,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s Southern hospitality, but everyone’s really nice. You know, the food here is great, the art here is great, the bands are all great, and the hotel I’m staying at is great. I’ve got no complaints.”
He even found an unexpected taste of home on International Food Row, which this year added Australian toasted sandwiches called jaffles to the menu.
“I’m standing in front of the place answering the question ‘what’s a jaffle?’ like every five seconds,” he said with a laugh. “But that’s cool.”
The Human Knot at the Festival of the Arts
The 46th annual Festival of the Arts continues from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Festival Plaza, on Hudson Avenue and at the revamped Myriad Botanical Gardens in downtown Oklahoma City.
Al Millar, aka ALAKAZAM: The Human Knot, will perform his contortionist/comedian act three times a day. Performance times are noon to 12:30 p.m., 2:30 to 3 p.m. and 7:45 to 8:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 12:30 p.m., 2 to 2:30 p.m. and 4 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, call 270-4848 or go to www.artscouncilokc.com. See the rest of Friday’s performing arts schedule after the break, or click here to view the whole lineup.
Friday, April 27 Festival of the Arts performance schedule
Café Stage
11 a.m. Voices – Inspirational
Noon Trashion Fashion Show
1 p.m. Mark Galloway – Acoustic
2 Brian Mitchell Brody – Jazz
3 Dizzy Pickers – Folk/Country
4 OC Symphonic Band – Instrumental
5 Antsy McClain & the Troubs – Country/Pop
6 New Shoes – Rock
7:30 Urban Addiction – Variety
Great Lawn Stage
11 a.m. LGC Students, directed by Michael Fresonke – Guitar
Noon Perkins Tyron Music Makers – Choral/Dance
1 p.m. Encore – St. Mary’s Episcopal School – Variety
2 Soldier Creek Natural Notes – Choral/Dance
3 Dance Dimensions – Dance
4 Independence Honor Choir- Choral
5 Science Museum Oklahoma Presents: The Science of WOW!
6 Festival Idol Competition
7:30 Scott Fleenor – Pop
Water Stage
11 a.m. Oklahoma Traditions – Traditional/Folk
Noon Chain Gang – Pretenders Tribute
1 p.m. TJ Rhea & the Steamrollers – Elvis Tribute
2 Sets of Failure – Rock
3 Loose Change – Rock
4 David Dobson & Rob Freedman – Variety/Traditional
5 Rachel Stacy – Country/Rock
6 OKC Improv – Improv Theatre
7:30 Hoppy Niles and the One-Armed Bandit – Variety/Rock
Art Moves Stage
11 a.m. Timothy Bradford – Original Poetry Reading
Noon Sam Kahre – 13-year-old Cellist
1 p.m. Kristen Vails – Painting Demonstration
5 Arabesque – Celtic/World Music
6 Wayne McEvilly – Classical/Okie Pianist
-BAM
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