All too often when mime pops up in everyday conversation, it ends up being the butt of jokes. But last weekend a master of mime showed what’s so great about the performance art form. It’s just plain fun to watch.

Trent Arterberry is a rubber-faced, rubber-limbed performer who clearly knew more than how to escape out of imaginary walls or walk against the wind. He’s been miming for nearly a quarter century, and even studied with famed mime icon Marcel Marceau. It showed on Jan. 22 when he was in Spruce Grove.

The American performer who is nearly 50 years old showed both impressive flexibility in his movements and imagination in the choreography of his routines. Several were set to music, while others were performed while he narrated a story. But the standouts were the opening number, when Arterberry came out as Robo-man complete with grinding sound effects as he moved about checking out audience members, and Arterberry’s interpretation of the circle of life beginning and ending in the womb.

There were other memorable moments, like a journey under the sea in search of mermaids, or a dance sequence done while wearing glow in the dark material. The crowd was left in stitches with two numbers that had volunteers from the audience involved. One had three young children telling the story of Jack and the Beanstalk while receiving on-stage cues from Arterberry. The other closed the show, and left a man sitting in the front row with a red face—even through the white clown makeup that was applied in an amazingly short time by Arterberry.

The pace was quick, the material was varied enough to keep the audience interested, and the show’s length, about 70 minutes, seemed just right. The audience, which was about half-full at Horizon Stage, was mostly of the younger variety, and the show seemed particularly targeted at them, thought there were a few jokes with more adult connotations thrown in for the parents and grandparents as well. I’d wager anyone who saw the performance won’t be quick to poke fun of mimes after seeing one so enjoyable to watch.