If you see a man in white makeup and a dapper hat at community events you may be seeing Rufus the Mime – Lethbridge's own mime.
“ It’s very interesting telling a scene without using words. But I’d never mimed in my life,” said Jerry Firth, a social worker with the city of Lethbridge by day. He is working on his MA insocial work.
He puts on Rufus for a variety of community events like the Pangaea Diversity Cafe, The Party in the Park, and last week at the Lethbridge Association for Community Living Walk off.
“ It was just something that interested me, so I started playing around with it .
he was also part of the Whoop Up Days parade, Aug. 19 and won second place for comedy and novelty act.
“I put the makeup on my face and put on the black and white outfit and people really seemed to enjoy it, so I asked my wife what I should call him and she suggested Rufus,” Firth explained.
“ I’ve just been doing pro bono community events, but I’ve done one party,” he continued adding Rufus have evolved a lot of the past few months he has been performing him.
“ I’m experimenting with him and he's an evolving character,” he said.
“ He is a very loving person and he likes to be able to play,” he described.
“ He is also creating new actions. Rufus has an inflatable ball,” he said.
“ He is a lot of fun. I’m just letting him play out in a natural way,” he continued.
Firth said he is pursuing any opportunities to spread the word about Rufus.
His next local show is Multi-Cultural Days on Aug. 15.
