From Redddit, one month ago
I just saw the new Ringling Brothers + Barnum Bailey production…
"Just left the arena in downtown Miami for the first night of the new Ringling Brothers production….I’m sad! I didn’t really like it! The acrobats and gymnasts were amazing, but the production and the in-between acts and hosts just fell short for me. It didn’t feel cohesive, almost like a kids music and dance show with some circus acts sprinkled in between. As a lover of circus history and culture I’m just sad. I was ready for the show to tap into some much needed nostalgia and it just did not do that at all."
From another posting:
Sometimes, only when you dig far, or not even far, you can find truths scarcely reported.
Only one show, yes. Only one date, yes. But it matches what I was reading on Reddit at the end of the last tour.
Only one city, yes, but Miami is a big city with a population that I can imagine going for circuses --- spelled ... c i r c u s e s.
That's right. Ringling is no longer a "circus."
By the tone of this person's report. I do not sense anger or sarcasm or snobbery. I only sense sadness ...
* I can only assume this photo was not taken during come in, for no evidence of figures filing into the seats.
2 comments:
At this point, they should just pack it in. I don't know who runs it now, but they obviously don't have a clue what people want, they can't fill an arena - either on the floor or in the seats. Perhaps a one ring tent show would work, without all the idiotic singing and dancing.
Their Facebook post for International Woman's Day highlighted their great attraction - the first female announcer (you couldn't call her a ringmistress without a ring) - an overweight woman in an ill fitting floor length coat of hideous design. When it was the first black ringmaster, did he bring in more black audience for all the promotion they gave him? I think the days of "first this of that" is over.
At the moment, Florida is full of circuses - some of decent size, some I've never heard of so might be new on the scene. All with European tents and production style. I hope it's a successful season for all of them. Ringling, I could care less about. They've cooked their goose.
Who would go out just to see their first female ringmaster, and one without a ring to master? Brilliant point! LOL
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