A magnificent performance at the fair

Published 11:34 pm Wednesday, August 29, 2007

‘Hey kids! Don’t let your parents push you around all day!” yells the coffee server when a double stroller passes in front of his 6-foot unicycle.

He calls out, “Cold latte No. 63!” A curious woman glances up and the cup of Starbucks brew falls toward her from the tilted tray. She shrieks and jumps back. “Watch out! You’re OK!” cries the coffee server, pulling the cup back on its rubber band.

Roberto the Magnificent is working at home this week.

After some serious travel, performing far away in Japan, New Zealand and 45 of the 50 states, the Magnificent is back at the Evergreen State Fair, just up the road from his home in Edmonds where he simulates a normal life with his wife and daughter.

The last time 38-year-old Robert Stuverude performed at the Evergreen State Fair was about 10 years ago, he says. He has performed halftime shows in every NBA arena in the country. Baseball games. Public and private events of all kinds. The Magnificent has done over 13,000 shows since quitting his paper route in Ballard to become a juggler at age 11.

Besides the coffee server character, Stuverude has an Elvis character and others that he performs in a “roving set” between his shows at noon and 4 p.m. each day at the Family Fun Stage.

A man walks by carrying a toddler on his shoulders. “Sir!” shouts the Magnificent, “you have a child growing out of your head!”