the reality of a circus

Since I am making a tv series about a circus, what do I do on my day off, but go to a circus, and even somehow manage to end up on stage as part of an act. This reflection seemed appropriate. It's fun for us to watch a circus, but crikey they have a tough schedule, and after two shows today they will pack the tent up, in all this mud, and move on for two shows tomorrow. Every one seemed such a tight unit, if they weren't helping with the rigging one moment, they were dangling upside down the next. The box office lady was the Ringmistress. And OK it lacked finesse, but we loved its rawness, and immediacy. and there were truly some amazing stunts. A troupe of asian acrobats pulling off some breathtaking moments. All very impressive, but oh I hope they are all comfortable and well paid and looked after. A million miles from Cirque du Soleil, but very entertaining. My part - well the clown. dressed as a conductor, gave a few of us some lovely cow bells and we were conducted in 'O sole mio' - it worked rather well too.