FLEMING - There were plenty of ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages everywhere, and a talented and determined group of Owasco Elementary School fifth-graders who made the 11th annual “Night at the Circus” an entertaining success Friday night at Auburn High School.

A crowd estimated at close to 400 watched the program, which had acts that ranged from stilt walkers to a duel on globes.

“It's been awesome,” said a red-nosed Mike Kick as three of his fellow clowns - Aliyah Mastrobatista, Chris Newert and Jonathan Kiddy - nodded in agreement. The foursome seemed a little anxious as the show was about to begin. A total of six clowns performed.

Two seasoned and well-traveled entertainers, “Incredible Larry” Rundle and “Juggling Josh” Edelman, have worked with the 60 Owasco Owls since Monday on honing their acts. Edelman and Rundle gave an applause-filled performance for the entire flock at the school Monday morning to start the exciting week.

“We've been working with intensity all week long, a crazy four days,” said Edelman, adding the motivation to do well in such a setting is always in great supply with fifth graders. “The challenge is really the short time frame. We have a lot of potential that we just can't fully tap because we only have four days.”

In previous years, Owasco Elementary partnered with the National Circus Project to stage their production. But Edelman and Rundle have since formed their own company, Kid Circus Productions. They work with students throughout the Northeast, and this was their first assignment of the new school year.

Friday's show had a pirate theme. During the Plates of Penzance act, 10 performers reminded the older audience members of those vaudevillian acts made popular during variety shows such as Ed Sullivan, such as the art of keeping a plate spinning on a stick. After each bit of schtick, each of the plate jugglers would thrust their stick forward and yell “Aargh,” as good pirates are apt to do.

There are 355 children at Owasco Elementary, which is located on Letchworth Avenue in the town of Owasco, and

Principal Mickie Cuevas-Post is a strong believer in how much the circus benefits her fifth-graders.

“It gives them a number of things - the ability to work together as a group, it improves their motor skills,” said Cuevas-Post, now in her sixth year at the school.

The gymnasium at Auburn High was steamy for this time of year, but few seemed to mind except for the Owasco Owl. Although a nocturnal animal, the owl just had too many feathers and was forced to shed its costume soon after the show started.

Ken and Melissa Entenmann were there to watch their son, Dan. Melissa said her son has been talking about being part of the circus since his two brothers, Connor, 14, and

“This is my third circus, so it's kind of sad in a way. It's a wonderful community event,” said Entenmann. “The turnout has been great, the support has been great. When the kids are kindergarteners, they look forward to it.”

The Owasco Parent-Teacher (OPT) is crucial to making the event an annual success.

“I think it will live on for a long, long time because the kids just look so much forward to it,” Entenmann said.

Before the final bows, Rundle thanked everyone who had helped make the week a success. And he was impressed by the young students he'd gotten to know.

“We really had a great time. The kids were really fantastic. They were very much in control of themselves at all times, just very well disciplined,” he said.