They were The Flying Samovars, once the world's most famous acrobatic act. But now in their mid-50s, Natasha, husband Yuri, and his brother Anatoly were suffering declining interest ­ and bookings. "We need some help to rejuvenate our act," said Natasha. So they visited Manny Teekanne, an agent who specialized in older vaudeville-style acts.

Manny was familiar with the Samovars' problems. "You could be playing Las Vegas if Anatoly hadn't bothered all those female hotel guests with sexist remarks," he said. "But we want you to rejuvenate our act so we can play to a new audience, or offer something different to old audiences," Natasha pleaded. "If you seek rejuvenation, use this wishing stone I got from my Bavarian granny," Manny said.

Although Natasha was incredulous, she kept the stone. But after Manny arranged an audition with several booking agents, and no changes had been made in the Samovars' act, Natasha began to worry. Waiting in a dressing room, Yuri looked at the wishing stone. "Maybe we should use. What we got to lose but careers," Yuri said. Snatching back the stone, Natasha exclaimed, "Wishing stone, rejuvenate our career!"

A puff of smoke engulfed the room, and when it cleared, all three Samovars had become infants wearing only diapers. "Idjit! Why did you wish us too young," Anatoly protested. "Worse, we all the same age. I supposed to be big brother," Yuri complained. But before they could reuse the stone, they heard Manny's voice, "Come on! Time to audition." Never missing a curtain call, the infantized Samovars ran onto the stage and did their old act, but as babies. The booking agents rose in thunderous applause.

The rest is history. Their careers (among other things) rejuvenated, the three Samovars, renamed The Bouncing Babies, have bookings at Disney World and other amusement parks, in family theaters, and on all the major TV variety programs. In fact everyone wants the Samovars to perform ­ except in Las Vegas. It seems that during their only booking there, Anatoly winked at a well-endowed woman and said, "Is time for my 2:00 feeding."



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