I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: March 11, 2016] Doktor Kaboom!

Anyone named Doktor Kaboom sounds like a performer I want to see. Especially if his thing is that he mixes science and comedy.

I knew nothing about the man when we bought tickets at RVCC Friday night, but boy was I excited.  And so were the kids, who both love science and things that go Kaboom!

So Doktor Kaboom came out on stage and…lo and behold…the K in Doktor wasn’t a zany spelling (thank goodness), it is because the good Doktor is German!  And when he asks you if you understand, you must shout Ja!, not yeah or yuh or okay, JA!

And he likes things to go Kaboom!  Ja?  JA!

Out he came, looking a lot like in this photo–big yellow lab coat, heavy gloves and goggles.  And within moments he had us all laughing.

The Doktor told lots of jokes.  He even made some delightful asides about the jokes like–that one was for the parents, that one is just for me, about three of you got that one.  He joked about science, about Germany and his accent (English is my sssurd language–I have trouble with my th sound, although I could say that with a hard t (it took everyone a second to get that mildly rude joke)), and about all manner of things.

But one thing he did not joke about was safety. And when he had volunteers come on stage he made a big (and yes, okay, often funny) deal about them being safe.

So the boy who was catching the ping pong balls that represented electrons had to wear a big welders mask (in case your parents are lawyers), and the boy who wielded a leaf blower had to wear ear goggles.

But amid all of the funny and cool scientific things on stage was a real lesson to be had.  And while this is a family show, I can’t tell you how much I learned about electricity–something which has always been akin to magic for me.

He had such a great stage presence–very funny and mildly intimidating. He very pointedly but politely asked the audience not to use their phones during the show for safety, because it is very distracting to the people next to you, and if they are distracted they may not be able to react when a projectile flies at them.

When he brought the first boy on stage he asked him if he was mart.  They boy said yes, and the Doktor said he was proud of him for saying that.  He said, too often, when people are asked if they are smart of creative or anything, they just shrug or nod.  But if someone asks you if you are smart you must look them in the eye and shout YES!  It was an excellent piece of advice for everyone.

He had two kids come on stage to show how electrons repel each other.  And his safety equipment foe this was hilarious and practical at the same time.  Especially when the Doktor became a proton to show how they attract.

We all had great fun with the girl he brought up to show off the Van Der Graff Generator.  I had never seen this exhibition done so well–that the girl stood on a plastic stool, which was non-conductive, so her hair really stood up.  And when she stepped off the stool we all gasped.

When he showed how you can use one form of energy to create another form, he had a boy use a leaf blower to power lights.  And the boy was so funny the Doktor stopped the show to ask his parents if he could buy the boy he was so good on stage.  The interaction between the two and the Doktor such a great sport that I had tears in my eyes.

After this, he brought out the Tesla Coil.  He gave us the history of the coil and the difference between AC and DC current.  And then he showed us something that I didn’t know–a Tesla coil can light a light bulb that is nearby.  Tesla created wireless electricity 100 years ago.

The show was exciting and funny and very engaging.  T. shouted Ja! about 100 times (and even got a laugh when she shouted kaboom at a quiet moment) and C. was on the edge of his seat for much of the show.

It was wonderful.

I also got a kick out of it when he told us to visit his web site which is doktorkaboom.com spelled out!  Because if you just type in Dr.Kaboom, you get a Canadian clown.  In a heavy German accent: “We despise the Canadian clown.”  Hilarious.  Ja!

This was Kaboom’s “fourth show” and if he ever tours the other three again or a new one in the future, we will be back, no question.

KABOOM!