There are some things you are never too old for. The circus is one of those timeless events that any age can attend, marvel over and be just as welcome as anyone else. And the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus has their business down to an art.
It’s also difficult to say no to the circus, I’ve come to find, as I debated attending the circus over doing some responsible house chores and decided that the former option sounded infinitely better. Arriving at the McKenzie Arena, I saw I wasn’t alone in this decision, as the line for the midday weekend show stretched out of the arena, down the sidewalk and to the road.
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey have been in the business since 1907, and know how to put on a show. They first start by allowing all guests to come down to the ring for the pre-show, one hour before the main event starts. Here, little children and adults can sit ringside as the trained dogs are brought out, the clowns strut their stuff and, in this case, a gravity-defying pyramid, consisting of five audience volunteers was made.
Resistance is also futile for the circus snacks. It doesn’t seem right to go to a circus and not get popcorn, cotton candy or a snow cone and the Ringling Brothers were selling all three at their stands, which included souvenir hats or cups with these purchases.
The souvenirs were also top notch for this show. There were stuffed animals, and spinning glow lights, tiger and elephant shaped cups filled with a snow cone, hats and flags. I still have a souvenir from my first circus; a light up snow globe with an elephant on top.
The show’s theme was “Zing, Zang, Zoom,” words that were required from the audience to make some parts of the show’s magic continue. When the show began, there was almost too much to see, as every part of the ring had a different component going on at times. The tumblers and acrobats were fantastic, with bright costumes and fluid movements. Magic acts appeared throughout the show that still have me scratching my head and wondering how they did it. And there were the clowns that did a hilarious stunt involving “appropriate music” versus a giant iPod’s Black Eyed Peas takeover mix.
Another great part of the show was the trained animals. There were poodles, Jack Russell Terrier mixes and other furry friends that came out and hopped on their back legs, jumped through hoops, weaved through obstacles and did some amazing jumping work with gates.
Yet I have to say that the trained cats were more impressive. Anyone who has had a cat knows that training doesn’t seem like a possibility with felines, but these cats were all about it and did amazing things for their treats. They shimmied across parallel bars, climbed under the bars in a jungle gym fashion, did hoop work and put on an amazing show.
The big cats, also known as lions, were also on hand to do a nerve-racking performance of their own. Growling and clawing the air, these cats did their tricks such as sitting up on the back legs, bursting through paper hoops and more for larger pieces of meat, which they made quick work of with their massive teeth.
The motorcycle on a high wire, acrobats on A high wire and trapeze, and women who hung in the air by their hair were also a sight to see. No safety nets were visible, as these performers did flips and spins with an air of ease. There was also a pair of brothers that tumbled around the ring and then jumped through a ring of fire and then leapt through it again, this time, blindfolded.
One of the final acts was a trio of motorcycles inside a metal cage zooming past one another, inches apart. The biggest surprise of this act was when the cyclists pulled off their helmets at the end of the performance to reveal that they were a family of father, son and daughter. I’m sure this affirmed what many of the ladies in the audience already knew: girls rule.
Another final act included more acrobatics, but this time with catapults that launched the tumblers into the air and onto another gymnast’s shoulders. It was a fantastical sight, and showed a level of skill and devotion to their profession that many probably do not consider.
The two-hour circus event was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon, and put smiles on the faces of those in attendance. The next time the circus comes into town, don’t resist giving in to this timeless pleasure.
Email Erica Tuggle at reporter@hamiltoncountyherald.com.