by Rachel Hunter
The world-famous, Guinness Book of World Records master bubble wrangler Jeff Boyer impressed local audiences with his Big Bubble Bonanza in the Gouverneur Public Library’s loft on Thursday, July 6. A total of 159 local residents enjoyed the bubble spectacular in three separate shows.
Jeff Boyer is a proven crowd-pleasing performer engaging, amusing and educating audiences for decades. He’s been excited about bubbles and physics since he was a kid. Studying acting at SUNY Jefferson (Watertown, NY) and the Boston Shakespeare Company brought his skills and calling into focus. Jeff moved into performing for family audiences in 1993. He’s enjoyed being part of ensemble casts and being a one-man show including musical theatre, drama, comedy, science and magic performance. He started Jeff Boyer Productions in 1999 and has been wowing audiences internationally with bubbles, science, and comedy ever since. A variety artist with over 25 years of entertainment experience, Jeff mixes the flair of magic, comedy, music and audience participation. He specializes in inclusion and diversity performance, seamlessly engaging audiences beyond language, cultural, age, and ability barriers. His dynamic style galvanizes communities. Jeff began creating bubble shows in 2005. His experience with school groups led him to raise audience participation to a new level. With Big Bubble Bonanza, Jeff Boyer engaged, delighted and appealed to the local crowds, inspiring the locals with the sensory-friendly bubble extravaganza, which proved to be fun for the whole family.
The Gouverneur Public Library has been excited to bring Jeff Boyer’s show since they booked him in early January 2023. It was Judith Poticher, president of the Gouverneur Public Library Board of Trustees, who saw Mr. Boyer’s show first-hand and knew that they wanted to bring it to the Gouverneur Public Library for local families to enjoy. Gouverneur Public Library Manager Greta Schrader eagerly welcomed all local residents to the Gouverneur Public Library last Thursday, and were ushered up to the library’s loft to grab a seat for the performance.
“I am a bubble expert,” Jeff Boyer said. “I perform all over the world. I have performed in countries like Qatar, Mexico, all over the United States… But I’ve learned I am not the only bubble expert in the world. In fact, all kids are bubble experts. You grown-ups have seen it. Kids know bubbles. So let’s make a deal. I’m going to teach you what I know about bubbles… but I’m also hoping you guys can teach me about what you know about bubbles.”
During the educational show, Jeff Boyer first asked the youths to answer the question: “What is a bubble?” After listening to several definitions from the youths, he provided the following definition that he uses to describe a bubble: “A bubble is air surrounded by a wall of water.”
“In fact, every bubble that I make for you today has three layers. It has two layers of bubble solution, and in between those two layers of bubble solution, is a layer of water. Water has something called surface tension. It’s what bugs use to walk on top of the water. Bugs can do that because they use the surface tension that water has – and it is that surface tension that not only holds that bubble together, but it pulls it into that shape. I doesn’t matter what shape your bubble wand is, every bubble you make with it will be perfectly round because that surface tension naturally pulls that bubble into the shape with the least amount of surface area. And that shape is a sphere.”
Mr. Boyer then asked the North Country families in attendance: “What happens to a bubble when you touch it?” “It pops,” screamed the youths in attendance. Mr. Boyer then explained the nature of a bubble. “As long as you touch the bubble with something wet, you can touch it all you want.”
The educational component continued throughout the 50-minute show as Mr. Boyer impressed the local audiences with tiny bubbles, giant bubbles, bubbles inside of bubbles, creating bubbles with everyday household items, encapsulating people in bubbles, and so much more. Many of the local children were engaged through the many opportunities for audience participation.
Jeff Boyer also informed the local audiences this was not his first visit to Gouverneur. In 2008, he appeared at the Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair alongside the Dazzling Mills Family from Marion, Ohio who were famous for their juggling and unicycle act. His friend, Steve Mills, a world-famous juggler, passed away recently in June 2023.
Jeff Boyer’s Big Bubble Bonanza ended with great fanfare as the bubble wrangler created thousands of bubbles in the library loft. “My name is Jeff Boyer, and you guys are incredible. Thank you so much.” The local youths then took the opportunity to get out of their chairs and joyfully dance in all the bubbles as the show came to a close.
The Gouverneur Public Library was proud to bring Jeff Boyer’s Big Bubble Bonanza to the Gouverneur community. Much gratitude was extended to all those who attended the shows. Many North Country families expressed interest in seeing the show again. Information on upcoming programs at the Gouverneur Public Library will be announced as information is made available to the Gouverneur Tribune Press.
Gouverneur Public Library Manager Greta Schrader alongside library staff distributed goodie bags to all the local families in attendance, which included information on the 2023 Summer Reading Program at the Gouverneur Public Library. As of July 7, the Gouverneur Public Library had 92 participants signed up for the program, with plenty of room for more participation from those in the Gouverneur community. The Gouverneur Public Library’s All Together Now Summer Reading Program will run from July 1-31. There are four categories Adult (Ages 18+) Teen (Ages 12-17) Children (Ages 6-11) and Pre-K Children (Ages 1-5). Participants will receive an activity sheet for their category. They will receive one grand prize raffle ticket at sign up and will receive additional raffle tickets for each completed level of their activity sheet. There is a grand prize for each category and additional prizes for Pre-K and Children participants. Please visit the library during regular open hours to sign up any time during July.
For more information, call the library at 315-287-0191.