Peachock’s stunts awed attendance

Charles Peachock used entertaining methods to keep the UW-Platteville crowd amazed and involved.

Robby Brunner

Charles Peachock used entertaining methods to keep the UW-Platteville crowd amazed and involved.

Two-time world champion juggler Charles Peachock, stunned the audience with a flawlessly executed juggling performance Oct. 24, in Velzy Commons.

Peachock, started juggling at the early age of 12, introduced himself to the audience by showing a video of his audition on “America’s Got Talent,” where he became a finalist and the highest placing juggler on the show. In the video, Peachock explains to the judges that he hopes to bring juggling away from the circus tents and into the theaters.

Peachock made his appearance to the stage, following his motto, “Catch The Impossible,” by juggling multiple balls, clubs, light up rings and even knives. Peachock’s comedic antics took the audience through a series of unexpected turns.

“He had a really fun personality. You knew whatever he was going to do was going to make you laugh. I actually remembered seeing him on ‘America’s Got Talent’ and that’s what made me decide to come see him,” junior education major, Amy Smith said.

For Peachock’s first dangerous stunt, he invited an audience member onto the stage. The participant laid on the floor and remained blindfolded as Peachock announced that he would juggle three knives above them. Only after the participant was blindfolded did Peachock grab clubs instead of knives, and lightly dropped one of the clubs onto them.

“When he brought out the knives, a million things for how it could have gone wrong rushed through my head, but he nailed every stunt without hesitation,” junior Ryan Kotajarvi said.

Peachock took the show from one extreme to another as he juggled five balls onto a piano keyboard, playing popular tunes without missing a beat. Five objects suddenly turned into seven as Peachock juggled glow in the dark rings. The audience roared with applause when the pink and green glowing rings suddenly lit up with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville logo.

“The show was very entertaining and it was a packed house. We had a very enthusiastic crowd with very willing volunteers,” Trisha Broihahn, event coordinator, said.

For Peachock’s finale, he incorporated a special act that involved him leaving the stage in order to prepare. The lights shut off, leaving the room pitch black as Peachock came out wearing a glow-in-the-dark body suit accompanied by light-up rings. It was this act, in addition to a stunt where he lit his legs on fire that caught the world’s attention on “America’s Got Talent.”

“Honestly it was just such a good turnout and such good energy. They were kind to us man, they were ready to go and I think it was just the audience I enjoyed the most. They were great,” said Peachock.

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