I saw a show about animals used in magic performances. While some, like white Bengal tigers and parrots, have the intelligence to learn certain basic performance behaviors on stage, others, like rabbits, and boa constrictors are, shall we say, a bit more basic. I have learned that Doves, especially, are not particularly bright. Their lives are spent sunning themselves, bathing, and pooping 25 times a day. They are truly the super models of the bird world.

Magicians who use animals, the program went on to explain, do better to learn animals' natural behavior and build their performances around this. For example, rabbits are quiet and feel safe in snug, dark places. This is why magicians choose them to hide them in secret compartments of illusions rather than trying to hide Jack Russell terriers.

I currently own a dove named Rastelli, who has a natural tendency to fly up and land on my head. Instead of trying to get him to do something new, this behavior is perfect for a laugh in my show.

So it occurred to me that if this approach of building on what comes naturally works with dumb animals it might even work with middle schoolers. You see, I lead LOL, a group of 12-14 year olds who juggle, act,and perform illusions. This year, though, I have a rookie team, with minimal juggling experience.

But what I DO have is a group that includes three very talented gymnasts, three sweet singers, a member of the Portland youth Symphony, and a class clown. Perfect... I'll get them to juggle eventually, but until then, I decided to take advantage their natural skills(Okay, not really natural; rather skills they've already developed under someone else's leadership).

So yesterday we set out to do our first show of the school year at River View Psychiatric Hospital in Augusta. The kids tumbled, sang, played classical violin and, in the case of our class clown, stole the show as the foolish builder from Jesus' parable. Yes, there was limited juggling, stilt walking and illusions too. But the best parts of the show were undoubtedly what the kids brought to LOL from their own past experiences.