What is a superhero? Many might answer with mentions of superpowers—abilities beyond the reach of ordinary people. But in the real world, some individuals can perform feats that seem straight out of a comic book. Professional gymnasts are among those extraordinary people, and their unique abilities were on full display at the Sagtikos Theatre last Saturday night. Though they may not actually be superheroes, their stunts were so mind-blowing, it would’ve been easy to convince the hundred or so in attendance otherwise.
One stunt that captivated me was when a performer placed a rose between his legs, dangerously close to his crotch. In a scene right out of Indiana Jones, another performer skillfully cracked a whip, slicing the rose in half—without hitting his colleague’s private parts, thankfully. Another standout moment was a female performer who managed to fold herself into a giant balloon without popping it.
What really impressed me throughout the show was the performers’ incredible flexibility. Two of the gymnasts worked together like a WWE tag team, their muscle control and teamwork commanding the stage as they pushed their bodies to the absolute limit. In one unbelievable feat, a performer shot a bow and arrow using only their feet—a display of astonishing coordination and flexibility. At one point, a male performer even invited a young audience member to compare flexibility, asking the child to twist their hand a full 360 degrees. The child couldn’t do it—but the performer didn’t just stop at 360; he twisted his hand up to 1080 or even 1440 degrees!
The entire show left me reflecting on how much dedication each of these performers must put into their craft. I imagine they spend hours every day pushing their bodies to the limit to entertain audiences like me. They may not wear capes, but their talents surpass anything you’d see from fictional heroes in comic books or movies.
If you’re interested in seeing more shows like this at Suffolk, check out the schedule for Saturday night events at the Sagtikos Theatre. These performances are free for all Suffolk Community College students, and whether you’re looking for thrills or good music, I highly recommend giving one a shot. If you’re even a fraction as impressed as I was, it’ll be well worth your time.
