A circus, you’ve got to be kidding me. No way was I going to a circus, I mean do circuses even exist in this day and age?
My memories are of a child of seven or eight being taken to a circus to see the lions. That was well, erm, over forty years ago.
Even at that age I didn’t like it. I remember vividly the smell of damp tent and sawdust and the strong smell of animals. I felt so sad for the lions...and the elephants and horses.
That’s what grandparents did as a treat back then, take you to the circus to marvel at how great us humans were in “training” these wild creatures to perform silly tricks. If only I had known then what I know now. So why on earth would I want to go to a circus in 2011!
“You must see this show” said my friend as she grabbed my arm and dragged me into the theatre “a circus with only humans performing, it’s awesome, you’ll love it.”
You know what, I did. From the opening scene I was amazed. The co-ordination and athletic skill was wonderful, from the juggling of a piano, yes a piano, to wire work and movements which just weren’t possible! Surely our bodies weren’t meant to do that.
It was obvious that these guys had trained for years to get to that physical peak to do this incredible stuff. You could feel their passion oozing and pure joy when performing on stage.
Such a contrast to the memory I have of lions looking scared with their fur all matted, to the sound of the crack of the whip, elephants doing mindless “tricks” and a horse riding round and round the ring with a girl on its back. For me there is no place for circuses with animals.
“Teaching” animals how to do “tricks” isn’t wonderful, it’s about using brutal methods and fear to force animals to do things not in their nature, with the sole aim of making as much money as possible. To me that’s not right. Animals can certainly teach us humans a thing or two.
“Well” my friend asked, “what did you think?” Incredible, wonderful, eye-catching, a show I’d definitely recommend. And the best thing about it, was that there wasn’t an animal in sight.