Things are getting Freaky as circus sideshow hits

By Aparita Bhandari

CARNIVAL DIABLO KEEPS VAUDEVILLE TRADITION ALIVE
See the Scandinavian Giant Stevan Hart bend iron bars in his teeth and then become a human dartboard.
Watch the Lurid Niece Christine consume crickets and worms and dance on broken glass.
Witness Jason Queck the Impaler pierce his body with sharpened bicycle spokes or Swordswallower Istvan Betyar swallow an 18-inch French bayonet.
The 10th Anniversary of Carnival Diablo, Canada's only circus sideshow, being held tonight at the Opera House, promises to be memorable- led by ringmaster Nikolai Diablo, portrayed by 37 year old Scott McClelland .
McClelland, who recently returned from Romania after co-starring in the movie "Wolf Girl" alongside Tim Curry and Grace Jones, dedicates the sideshow to his grandfather,Prof.N.P.Lewchuk.
Originally from the Ukraine, Lewchuk was fascinated by the world of proffesional vaudvillians. So he created a 2-1/2-hour travelling show that included magic, hypnotism, juggling, feats of strength, and fire eating.The first show was performed under a big-top tent in 1920, in the village of Stenon, Sask. From there the theatrical troupe traveled by train across Canada.
Inspired by his grandfather, McClelland longed to be a entertainer. "When I was 10, my grandfather taught me a piece of magic,that was over 100 years old" he says.
Impressed by his grandson's capabilities, Lewchuk took 11-year old McClelland to the International Brotherhood of Magicians' annual worldwide convention held in Saskatchewan.By the time the boy was 12, he had appeared on CBC and was touring across Canada with his magic acts. In 1979,13 year old McClelland put together a half hour routine, Dr. Crookshank's Travelling Medicine Show, for the Calgary Stampede.
Fifteen years later, it was time for something different-very different.
His grandfathers estate netted a 35-ft. trailer filled with 120 preserved sideshow freaks such as two-headed calves, pigs with three snouts, shrunken heads and mermaids. McClelland leased an empty warehouse and set up his grandfathers freak show museum, trained performers and Carnival Diablo was born on April Fool's Day,1992.
"The troupe has changed over the years," McClelland says. "this kind of life style is hard on the body."