Inflatable theater thrills kids, adults at MCA> Zany performance full of human acrobatic routines

It was kids’ night out Friday at the Maine Center for the Arts, where the Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Co. showed up with its wacky act of oversized, air-filled floating shapes and human acrobatic routines. But as refrigerator-sized squares and balls zipped across stage, it was hard to tell who was laughing harder: the 4-year-olds or the 40-year-olds.

A combination of juggling, jiggling, jumping and wiggling, the Fred Garbo Theater has made its mark in the world of contemporary vaudevillians. Fred Garbo and his dancing sidekick Daielma Santos have performed these elegantly hilarious shticks on TV, on Broadway and around the world. But home is Norway, Maine — not far from Garbo’s mentor, the renowned mime Tony Montanaro.

Garbo’s acts are seemingly simple but tickle some universal funny bone. For instance, a 10-foot nylon cylinder (containing a lot of air and one of the performers) slithers across the floor. Then folds in on itself. Or is chased by a second cylinder. Or pops up and dances. It comes dangerously close to the edge of the stage, quivers, and thrusts back to a safe position.

And the audience? It’s breaking up in laughter.

Later, Garbo juggled fire sticks, rings and objects four times his size. He flipped on and off stage, taking full advantage of a mischievous relationship with gravity. He’s part Charlie Chaplin, part Road Runner, part Johnny Carson. Yet if he were any more self-expressed, Garbo would have to administer free shock treatments to viewers who are cracking up.

Santos is often Garbo’s straight guy, but she has her own gifts, too. She mingles dance-comedy with sleight of hand and spunky spirit. Whether she’s being pitched into the air, or doing a ribbon dance, or a can-can routine that wafts her offstage, she’s vital to the glamour and grounding of this show.

Last night’s performance was one of several in Orono on Friday. Nevertheless, the energy was high and as full as any of the playthings drifting through the air. The final act with “Fred Zeppelin” was a gut-buster with Garbo in a ballooning body suit that dwarfed his already small size as he squattingly frolicked and boogied to a rock song.

After a 75-minute show, Garbo, who is in his 40s, and Santos, who is in her 30s, returned for multiple encores which culminated in four large shapes being tossed out into the crowd for a little post-show amusement. Over the din of the excitement, Garbo could just barely be heard saying something heartfelt about the joy of performing in his home state. He finally added in closing: “Don’t forget to make something beautiful of your lives.” And that’s not a lot of hot air coming from this clever company.