6/14/22 2:01 PST: Late breaking from Douglas McPherson in London: "Latest news from Ukraine: in war-torn Kyiv the circus is back in business with horses, parrots and tigers, oh my." Check out his blog, Circus Mania for more details.
From the Ukraine to Budapest, Hungary.
Ukrainian circus boy in a strange and friendly land
JOY OUT OF CHAOS Circus kids of Ukraine, having fled Putin’s slaughter, finding comfort and cheer in neighboring nations. This reported to me by our London tipster, journalist and author Douglas McPherson (Circus Mania). “Hundreds of Ukrainian circus students have been taken in by circus schools across Europe. There have been donations of costumes and equipment to performers who left the country without them.” Stranded circus animals, too, are surviving on loads of food from Monte Carlo festival, flowing into the wastelands of Putin’s horrifying revenge.
HOW TO ANSWER BACK, wonders a world on edge, held hostage by a monster holding in his hand the nuclear option? We are facing the ultimate nightmare. My heart aches for the people of Ukraine, worst of all if reports are accurate, little children, being gunned down in the streets. This is barbarism at its worst. May the Russians find the will and the way to eliminate this modern-day Stalin.
BIG TOPS WITH BIG HEARTS World Circus Federation director Jasmine Straga calling it “the largest collaboration of circuses in history.” And a moving one, at that. Notes Sir Douglas, “I guess it’s the art form with no borders.” Yes, indeed, as I can attest — that most beautiful of all entertainments, where you can sit next to people of many tongues and share, without words, identical sighs, gasps, laughs, moans, thrills — every time I go. Under big and little tops, audiences are truly one family for a moment in time. And here, world circus is coming together as never before.
THEY STILL LOVE A PARADE Let the summer not be another bummer down in Ringlingville, USA – not if Circus World has anything to do about it. Ringmaster in chief Scott O’Connell promising not just a new tent show, Yo-Ho at The Big Top, pirate themed but, better yet, the grand free Baraboo Circus Parade back in motion. “We’re hosting our sails and getting ready for the grand adventure,” pipes Scott on the dot, spot on. Okay, yes, so you’ve checked the “theme” box. How about the acts, Scott?
WATER STREET WONDERS, 2022: Topping the bill is our own born-in, made-in, and discovered-in America — Wesley Williams, the "One Ring Wonder" who knocks ‘em dead with his really really tall unicycle (a guineas record), coaxing the thing up and down stairs, and, who knows, maybe past security guards on ground level at mobbed airports. Wesley, a big wow on both UK and USA Got Talent TV shows, now comes with his own doggy act, Puppy Pals. Should make him doubly appealing to budget-strapped circus owners daring, still, to present anything that doesn’t move on two feet. Other acts include the German Wheel, a bungee bounce and Mr. Bill, a clown who, from a video I examined, may land a few half-laughs ... But hold your half giggles or doubts! Shelve your snickers! Elephants will be there, too. Princess Stephanie would be all smiles...
DISNEY BE DAMNED Uncle Walt must be roasting in his grave ever his family brand being dragged through the gender wars of America the aberrant. Current Disney CEO, Bob Chapek, bending to LBGTQ+2.5x-pending-further-notice, about to re-sexualize signage, characters and accommodations in order not to offend 0.6 percent of the population. Yes, 0.6 percent. Media whores blowing the realities ludicrously out of proportion. Since when did 0.6 percent of America get to redefine the other 99.4 percent? Whatever happened to, became of, Normal? The late Brit fringe sex snoop and scholar Havlock Ellis, would have gone giddy over the new Gender Is What You Make It mania.
His days may be numbered ...
SNOW WHITE AND CINDERELLA, the new model couple? Disney may have to remake its cherished catalog of screen gems – Toby Tyler no longer an ordinary kid falling for the heretofore acceptable “opposite sex.” Now opposite to what, pending, x+, or otherwise? We are going mad over here, and a restless majority is starting to wake up to liberal lunacy bent on demolishing norms anchored in biology. If I were a parent, I would not place my child in a school hell bent on stealing away parental control and imposing its own agenda on the most fragile segment of the population — little people just learning how to read and speak and make friends.
BLOCKBUSTER BIBLE readings to the rescue: Believe it or not, a young well-meaning Catholic priest, Father Mike Schmittz of Minnesota, joining bible author Jeff Cavins, began, first of the year, reading 22 minutes a day from the sacred scriptures. His podcast is now ranked number 1 among some 2 million podcasts. Given the woke-choke attack on almost anything vaguely related to western civilization, a growing number of innocent citizens, desperate for a semblance of timeless continuity, may be flocking to hear the good father’s readings.
END RINGERS IN VAIN: So-Cal based Circus Vargas looks stocked with a variety of grabbingly good action. And how I hope they’ll grab me up my way .... Royal Hanneford also looks boffo.... In eerie limbo: Big Apple ... Silence unbecoming: Ringling, about its promise last year to return next year ... Comes a monumental edition of Bandwagon, no longer edited out of Sarasota, but Baraboo, home to its editor Greg Parkinson. ... Better yet, on first scanning, it looks downright woke-free ... At this critical hour, could we ask for anything more? ...
4.4.2022