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Smallini's Diary

Big Apple Circus Still Kicks Ass

2/1/2020

 
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When looking for something to do on a gray January afternoon, I was happy to be reminded once again of one of the benefits to living in New York City - half-price tickets to excellent same-day entertainment. On a whim, my wife and I decided to take our sons to see The Big Apple Circus, which was playing in town next to Lincoln Center. We scored practically ring-side seats, half-off, for later that same day. Boom! 

The last I heard about the legendary Big Apple Circus was that it filed for bankruptcy and its star clown had resigned for sexual misconduct. A sad, inglorious end to a wonderful circus that I had experienced several times over the years. Or so I thought. The Circus was back, apparently, and this time around they had a cat show!

What an amazing afternoon we had. The Circus was another reminder that experiencing good live entertainment up close cannot be surpassed: A man doing a backwards somersault from one trotting horse onto another? Check. A woman dressed like a pigeon clowning around with the audience? Check. Feats of strength you didn’t know humans were capable of? Check. Cats doing tricks on command? Check. Another somersault? Ok, how about a guy doing one on a spinning “Death Wheel” sixty feet high? Check. Juggling open umbrellas? Yes. 

My thirteen year-old was blown away enough to not reach for his phone, citing his favorite acts being the Wheel of Death routine and the cat show. As an owner of two house cats, I don’t know if I can accurately describe the amazement of witnessing those creatures perform tricks for humans in the spotlight of a live crowd. Dogs? Well, Ok, sure. But cats? Truly astounding. 

All of the acts, including the refreshing and funky new Ring Master, were impressive, as I would have expected from the Big Apple Circus. I was just extra happy to see the troupe still kicking ass.
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Special mention goes to seventy-nine year-old Hovey Burgess, who was giving beginning juggling lessons to kids before the show. I’d never heard of Hovey (although his face seemed familiar when I saw him), until I looked him up and discovered his distinguished circus arts career, including playing a small role in one of my favorite movies, Robert Altman’s Popeye (He played Mort, one of the toughs).

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