The circus came to town this past weekend and while there weren't any tigers, lions or bears there was still a lot to see and do.
On the afternoon of Aug. 3 about 50 people went under the big top to witness a show that featured clowns, acrobats and even a human cannonball. A large blue-and-yellow tent was set up in the parking lot of the Uniplex. Outside a group of ponies walked in tired circles and a trailer offered tickets, popcorn and refreshments.
Out of the bright sunlight and under the big top it was much darker, the only light offered by glow-in-the-dark swords and countless tiny rips in the tent's fabric.
Entertainment included "Ms. Amanda", as the booming voice from behind the stage said, an acrobat in a sparkly blue outfit who wrapped herself in a red sheet and dangled some 30 feet above the hard ground. There were audible gasps from the crowd as Ms. Amanda twirled and dropped, held up only by the seemingly thin sheet. One woman watched most of the performance with a hand over her mouth.
After Ms. Amanda came the "strongest man alive", who turned out to be nothing more than what looked like a teenage clown in an inflatable suit. He danced around to LMFAO's hit song "I'm Sexy and I know it" and effortlessly lifted what appeared to be the world's lightest set of weights. The whole routine drew plenty of laughs from the many children and even some of the adults.
As with any circus, the theatre of it all couldn't be separated from the performances. Everything was grand and everything was fantastic, even though the disembodied voice coming from behind the curtain was having a very hard time generating any enthusiasm from the crowd.
"Who's ready to see our special guest?" the voice asked.
Judging by the reaction, nobody was quite ready.
The stifling heat under the tent could have perhaps explained the lethargy of the crowd. Stepping inside was like diving into a humid, dark closet. Open flaps at either end offered some sunshine but little in the way of relief.
The main attraction of the show was one of those old circus standbys, the Human Cannonball. During the show it was impossible to miss, a massive cylinder tucked away in the corner. It provided the capper to the show, an alluring reward for those who had suffered through the heat.
Was it enough to make the whole experience worth it? Judging by the excited screams and cheers, the answer was yes.
