Playing on the streets means interacting with all facets of humanity from the richest of the rich to the poorest of the poor. Especially in Vancouver where there’s a huge disparity between those who have and those who have not, street theatre can be one of the few shared experiences that anyone can enjoy no mater what their economic situation.

Laughter seems to be the great equalizer and the beauty of a street show is that everyone who stops can enjoy a shared experience and contribute to the joyful noise. Street performers are literally unifiers of humanity. That’s the intention anyway, but sometimes not everyone agrees.

Eric Amber sat down with Sharon Mahoney to relive a moment of took place at the end of one of Sharon’s Shows at English Bay and to celebrate the hilarious and heroic efforts of a homeless man named Rickey who took it upon himself to step in and resolve the conflict.