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:

texasrigger

1mo ago

Wow, the crowd looks terrible.* I'm sad that they tried to bring it back. I'm sure that there are small exceptions, but for the most part, I think the days of the grand American style circus are gone.

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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 no is 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.