'Dangerous Games'

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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WATERVILLE -- Ladies and gentlemen, step right up, don't push, there's room for all. Bring the kiddies and thrill them, bring grandma and grandpa and delight them -- right here on the big stage of the Waterville Opera House, be amazed, shocked, awed by an act out of the past.

The Waterville Main Street Organization is bringing sword swallower and mind reader Roderick Russell to the Opera House for a show called "Dangerous Games." Russell will be here for one night only, Friday, April 7, to share his unusual -- and disturbingly fun -- brand of entertainment.

Russell is one of only 50 living sword swallowers in the world and is known for his mind-over-body stunts. In addition to swallowing swords, he'll also read your thoughts, influence your actions and, if he's lucky, escape from a straight jacket, 80 feet of chain and two padlocks. Now when was the last time you saw that?

Q. When did you first realize that you were a sword swallower? Did you play with knives as a child?

A. Thankfully I didn't play with knives as a child, and I'm certain that is why I've lasted this long and am able to do it now. Seriously though, it wasn't until much later in life -- late teens as a young adult -- that I began to explore the types of skills that I now possess. The thing about sword swallowing is that it's not natural for anyone, is a decidedly learned skill. Becoming a sword swallower was an intentional, extremely conscious decision -- one that I have never taken lightly.

Q. Is sword swallowing harder than swallowing large pills? I can't swallow large pills. Would I have trouble with swords?

A. Truth be told, I sometimes still have trouble swallowing pills, and yes, I oftentimes gag while brushing my teeth! Sword swallowing is much more difficult -- and dangerous of course -- but through years of daily conditioning I've been able to train my body and mind to relax, temporarily suspend the gag reflex and guide the blade all the way to the bottom of my stomach. And don't let me fool you, it's not perfect every time!

Q. Have you ever made a mistake and cut yourself?

A. Unfortunately yes. I have hurt myself exactly once (seriously) doing absolutely everything that I do. I have burned my mouth fire eating. I have had dangerous blowbacks while breathing fire. I have sustained third degree burns on my feet and had to have the charred skin removed from firewalking -- and I have cut myself sword swallowing. But once is always enough, and it always happens at exactly the same point. That point is when I've performed it long enough to be proficient at it, just long enough to start getting a little bit relaxed about it, and then my mindfulness slips and I hurt myself!

Q. I know you don't want to give away tricks, but do you actually swallow?

A. The beauty of sword swallowing is that there are no tricks to give away. What you see is what you get! I don't actually swallow now, though I did while learning. At first it was the only way that I could get it to go down past my epiglottis (the flap over the trachea, just about level with your Adam's apple), which as it turns out is an extremely persistent obstacle when learning. I would in fact swallow, and the natural movement of the throat would drag it all the way down. It is perhaps the least comfortable, most painful way to do it!

Q. How many shows do you do a year?

A. Two-hundred and fifty is a busy year, at least 200 every year. Less than that and I start to get the itch to be working more.

Q. Where is the funniest place you've performed?

A. I don't know if you can print this in your paper or not, but I have actually performed for a large adult swingers convention -- it was very hilarious, they loved the show, and I got invited back the following year! Sometimes the agents book things without you realizing what they are, and you just have to go with the flow.

Q. And the scariest?

A. Last year I found myself performing outdoors in a torrential downpour, which turned into a massive flood. My straightjacket shrank to very small proportions, I had trouble even breathing in it, and it became as hard as concrete. I honestly thought that I had torn some ligaments getting out of the straightjacket and chain, and it took every ounce of muscle I had to maneuver inside of it.

Q. Where do you get your swords? Certainly not Wal-Mart.

A. I get them from all over. I shop at sword and knife shops, I order online, I've purchased quite a few on eBay even.

Q. Who are the best audiences?

A. I know it's cliche to say this, but every audience is amazing! They all touch my life.

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