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| January
6th, 2005 - |
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The
Circus is in Town!
Ringling Bros. and Barnum
& Bailey Circus®,
The Greatest Show on Earth Here for Just
a Few More Days
(Photos Below)
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-K.
Tanaka |
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____Thousands
flocked to the St. Pete Times Forum; little
hands held tightly to their parents' as
the eager masses worked their way into
the stadium seats. It finally came, and
in a few days, it will leave. It's something
not to be missed. It's the circus --and
not just any circus, it's the Greatest
Show on Earth.
____ The
show, just as promised, was different.
"Participation" was the evening's
keyword, and it all started with the All-Access
Preshow that kicked off one hour before
the opening number. The audience was invited
to meet clowns and animals --including
the painting elephant-- right by the rings
themselves. Soon after the crowd was prompted
to return to their seats, down went the
lights, and up went the anticipation.
____ The
Ringmaster made his grand entrance followed
by "Daytime" host Brian Fasulo,
who was announced as the evening's honorary
ringmaster. After the National Anthem,
the night began with song, dance, and
a married human-cannonball couple. And
the clowns, staying true to the theme,
had everyone in the stands on their feet
dancing and "exercising" to
a theme that reminded some of the "Wiggles".
This was appropriate, of course, as it
inspired the children to dance and shout
with glee.
____ Then
the action bloomed. Aside from a short
intermission, music, animals, performers
and everything in between filled all three
rings for next two hours.
____ Two
of the most amazing groups, the Chinese
acrobats and the Windy City Acrobats,
executed astonishing feats, defying gravity
and belief. Seeing the athletes bravely
leap through hoops in synchronization
is reason enough to buy tickets.
____ When
the animals --that is, tigers, elephants,
horses, dogs, cows and more-- made their
entrances, eyes were wide and cameras
flashed. Young children pointed to their
favorite animals as their parents named
what they saw. All the while questions
were being directed from the audience
to the Ringmaster about what was being
seen. Who knew elephants were multi-lingual?
____ Not
to downplay the local zoo or theme park,
one has to embrace that fact that the
circus only comes to town for a short
while and is, as they say, The Greatest
Show on Earth. The Ringling Bros. and
Barnum & Bailey Circus had been in
existence one year longer than our "official"
pastime, baseball, and it's easy to see
why it has endured so strongly.
____ For
more information about the circus and
at what time the shows are, click
here for the official press release!
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