Putting a new spin on juggling

He's been a professional clown and has made a living out of stilt-walking and stand-up comedy. But Edzui L. Szumowski, a 1987 graduate of Potsdam Central School, now has some science up his sleeve he will share with a national audience.

Mr. Szumowski, son of James H. and Carol E. Simpson of West Stockholm, is also an inventor. He said the invention he uses in his juggling act will be featured at 8 p.m. Wednesday on Discovery Channel's "Time Warp" program.

"Time Warp," according to a description by its producers, "uses new technologies to bring truly never-before-seen wonders into a form that your body can actually process."

Relying heavily on the latest advances in high-speed photography, the show highlights natural events that happen so fast that the body's senses can't interpret them. The show is hosted by a scientist and a digital-imaging expert.

Mr. Szumowski, who goes by the name of Edge professionally, has invented a "diabolo rebounding apparatus."

He explained that a diabolo is an ancient Chinese juggling prop consisting of a spool that is whirled and tossed on a string tied to two sticks that are held in his hands. Mr. Szumowski's invention is an apparatus at which he launches a diabolo. The diabolo rebounds off it, and he catches it with the string on his hand-held sticks.

Mr. Szumowski said audiences enjoy the apparatus because it gives a horizontal element to juggling.

"When it comes to juggling, the mechanics of that itself is mesmerizing," Mr. Szumowski said from his home in Seattle, Wash., on May 19, a few days before boarding a cruise ship where he has found steady employment. "But when you add a production value to juggling, it adds a new element."

As a youth in the Potsdam area, Mr. Szumowski performed as Jammin' the Clown at local fairs and birthday parties.

He is a 1993 graduate of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, and after graduating was one of 10 clowns offered a yearlong contract to tour 90 U.S. cities with one of two units of the legendary circus. He did a second tour with the circus in 1995.

Mr. Szumowski said he then worked for a while in Las Vegas. Besides juggling and comedy, his act included stilt-walking.

He later joined the cruise ship industry to entertain passengers. His cruise trips have ranged from Alaska to Spain.

Mr. Szumowski said he is a fan of "Time Warp" and sent its producers a video of his invention and act. He said he was contacted by producers, who flew him to Boston, where the show is filmed. He said he spent 16 hours filming in the studio.

"The producers have called me a couple of times," he said. "They are really excited about it."

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Potsdam Central School grad to be featured on 'Time Warp' TV show