ArtsCape escape

By CHRIS PAGANO

Southeast Missourian

The seventh annual ArtsCape community arts festival came a fiery conclusion Saturday as escape artist Marion Manzini was suspended upside-down from a burning rope while clad in a black leather straitjacket.

The performance was a little more fiery than intended -- the padding to keep the rope from cutting into his ankles caught fire as he was being raised a crane.

Once he reached the top, he got out of the straitjacket in about four minutes. He was lowered down quickly where assistants covered his feet with blankets to put out flames. He said that was the first time the padding had caught fire but that the burns weren't bad.

Sandy Nuyt, right, and Glenda Mueller, left, participated in the Street Painting competition during ArtsCape at Capaha Park on Saturday. Nuyt, of Cape Girardeau, chalked a portrait of her daughter, Shannon, who made the dragon in the foreground, and Mueller, of Perryville, Mo., drew flowers. (Kit Doyle)

"Yes, I would again do that trick," he said.

Before the straitjacket escape, Manzini worked the crowd with rabbit tricks, rope escapes, levitation and a handcuff and chain escape.

Manzini also hypnotized Ali Norder, 10, of Cape Girardeau, and then had her mother, Barb, and another assistant, remove the supports until she was levitated.

"I was a little nervous because I didn't see anything under her, but I do believe she was floating," Barb Norder said.

About 6,000 people attended ArtsCape at Capaha Park, according to Delilah Tayloe, executive director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. Besides Manzini, performers including musicians, dancers, poets, puppeteers and twirlers.

Although Manzini was a headliner for all ages, Shivelbine's Musical Instrument Petting Zoo was intended for children. Outside the pavilion was a giant gong, a few drum sets and xylophones, while inside there were instruments ranging from saxophones and electric guitars to trombones and French horns.

Dylan Laiben, 8 months, sat on the picnic table occasionally hitting the bongo drums while his parents, James and Crystal Laiben of Benton, Mo., helped.

"It's kind of exciting, it reminds me of home" in St. Louis, said Crystal Laiben, who has lived in the area for four years.

"Just to have a little touch of that is a great thing. How much they're doing with music and engaging children is really great," James Laiben said. Five-year-old Wyatt Gerard of Cape Girardeau played the drums, then tossed the sticks over his shoulders when he was through.

"It's a wonderful opportunity," said his grandmother, Donna Pikey of Cape Girardeau.

The Chalk Walk street art contest also returned to ArtsCape this year. The perimeter of the lake was alive with chalk drawings, such as silhouettes, hula dancers, fairies and SpongeBob. Artisan tents were set up along the lake, some demonstrating, others offering a hands-on experience, others selling original pottery, woodwork, jewelry, sculpture. Past the tents, the Beta Phi Sigma High Steppers entertained the audience before Manzini took the stage. Performer Keith Gardner, who's been stepping since spring semester, said it keeps him out of trouble but "We do a lot of other things too. This is just one of them."

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133