Finally, a circus in my own backyard!
At last, I can see Circus Vargas in a more Idyllic setting, “Idyllic” meaning not an anonymous mall over asphalt, or that seedy lot from hell by a harsh freeway in Oakland’s netherworld — but closer to an open field -- the (comparatively) gorgeous scrappy old Petaluma Fairgrounds, prominently located near the middle of a charming town.
They're slated for a week of shows in late August. And now that I once again have my own wheels, I can make it there in good time. I’ll be getting there in my Lyft (model yet to be determined), one hour instead of the three it would have taken had I roughed it out on public transit.
Those delightful Zoppes , who played the same lot last year, will be trouping in Northern California again, so I’m hopeful they’ll spring some other dates closer.
On the return of Ringling
Yes, Alice, there is a greatest show on earth, and it's coming back later this year, though not under a tent. Going against modern trends, they are still sticking to the mammoth hard tops that were increasingly harder for them to even half half way fill — back in the days of lions and tigers and elephants — even dogs and ponies. All of that older stuff erased from Kenneth Feld’s hard drive, in favor of — as I see it — Circus du Ringling on steroids
The name Nicole is nowhere in evidence. Now, the name is Juliette. And here, I had assumed that Nicole was the heir apparent. Me wonders if she disagreed.
What can we expect?
From Kenneth Feld, to the Associated Press:
“We knew we were going to come back. We didn’t know exactly how,” says Kenneth Feld, chair and chief of Feld Entertainment. “It took us a long time to really delve in and take a look at Ringling in different ways. It became a re-imagination, a rethinking of how we were going to do it.”
From the company:
“A group of 75 performers from 18 countries will carry out the acts, which combine artistry, skill and strength. Some will perform jumps, runs and other tricks on a wire high above the ground. The wire is stretched into a triangular path more than seven and a half meters up in the air.
‘Flying trapeze artists will also cut through the air way up high, flipping as they move. Others perform acts on self-turning wheels, bicycles, unicycles and skateboards”.
Reviving so little
Why have I not heard or seen a single news item about this? Why the total silence? It makes me wonder if the media for some reason is against it.
This will take guts to bring this off – with so much that in the public’s mind stood for CIRCUS no longer there. I do believe that Kenneth Feld has the resources and the adaptability to make changes if necessary. He is wisely staying away at first from major spotlights. This way, he can avert embarrassing publicity if his first reboot backfires.
Five stars for daring-do. And five more for having our own Wesley Wonders, the One Wheel Wonder, on the all-human (not sure about “binary”) bill.
As I see it, they may need to infuse the proceedings with plenty of levity and clowning, for this high-tech heavy may get mired in too too serious a tone.
Let it Roll!
Here's their route, which I share with you in the late great tradition of Don Marcks and the Biggerstaff’s much missed Circus Report. They’re selling tickets up through Philly, into next February. Why the stop gap? A safety value to fold or re-think if the first dates fail expectations? Pardon me for being prematurely paranoid, but Philadelphia is in the state of Pennsylvania. And it was in that state at Pittsburgh, where the big top fell in 1956.
Best of all, Ringling is back in operation, and this alone may send a message that circus is still a viable option. Kind of, a little .. It would be like Apple dumping i Phones or tablets from its offerings, only to bring them back, but vastly emasculated. Enjoy looking forward!
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