Seattle Press on Line - Catching Dreams Under the Big Top

Catching Dreams Under the Big Top

By Julie Reinhardt

Brynn Lydum learns a cool new move. Julie Reinhardt photo.

Mar 28, 2002 -- If you haven't seen the giant Big Top Circus tent on the corner of 85th and Wallingford, then you are in for a show, perhaps the Greatest Show on Earth. Blanchet High School's production of Barnum, set to open April 18, is bringing the circus back to the Broadway show. Director Mo Mershon has worked on this big budget production since last June. "The school has been so supportive," she said. "They see the positives of the educational aspect of this as well as the experience. This is a lifetime experience for the kids that they are never going to get again."

Barnum, which first ran in 1980, is a lively musical about the life of shyster-showman P.T Barnum. The opening song, "There is a Sucker Born Every Minute," retells the circus's "humble" beginnings, but the musical soon moves on to P.T.'s love woes and constant struggle with his wife's desire for him to "be respectable."

Though there are plenty colorful clown scenes, it was created as a stage show with the limitations of a theater in mind. Mershon's production in the Big Top will bring more circus elements to the play with the help of real circus folk. Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey taught the clowning workshops. "They've been very generous with their time and people," said Mershon. "The rehearsals have centered on appropriate make-up techniques and character work. Each (student) clown has worked on their own gags and have helped to design their own costumes along with our amazing costumer Amy Gembala."

John Symington and Christine Longe work on their dance moves. Jeryl Kolb photo.

Students auditioned in November by attending aerial, juggling and clowning workshops with local zany performing arts company Circus Contraption. Laura Paxton, one of the principals in the four-year-old circus troupe, and the aerial choreographer for Barnum, has been teaching the weekly Saturday morning aerial workshops. "Get some thick tights!" she told one student at a rehearsal, reminiscent of a scene in "Fame". Her favorite part about teaching the kids is how supportive they are to one another. "You might think high school kids are shy about performing or that they might tease each other. But they clap when one of them gets a move or go over and help if one of them is having a hard time. I've been really appreciative of the cooperative spirit."

At least one of the kids has decided to run away to the circus--with her mother's blessing. Brynn Lydum, by all accounts, is a natural. "She says she's found herself," said Mershon, "Which wasn't the intent but I think it's great." The aerialists, one of the stunning added elements to this production, have endured hardships to get to where they are. "It hurts to do a lot of the tricks," said Lydum, "You can get rope burn on your feet, hands and ankles. You get really tired, and you just want to keep doing it but you can't."

Finding a Big Top Tent large enough for the show was a major challenge in itself, but coordinating all the elements into one cohesive and safe performance has been a labor of love. "This show is like producing two shows at once--a musical and a circus," said Mershon,. "It is essentially in the round and needs to be an extremely active show, yet the play perspective needs to feel intimate!" NW Boychoir director Craig Schell is the musical director, backed up by an orchestra of mixed professionals and students.

Lauren Verilli and Eli Martin practice a flip move. Jeryl Kolb photo.

Another challenge the production has faced is people's poor perception of circuses in general: Mershon is bringing the circus to a city that essentially ran the circus out of town. It wasn't a sundown ultimatum, but Seattle is committed to the welfare of animals--especially at the expense of human entertainment. But Mershon says she's ready to take them on.

"I have animals at home, and I know and love animals. I especially know, with Barnum and Bailey, that the way they treat them is wonderful. There are companies out there that don't do that, but like anything else, you can't generalize. Their (Barnum & Bailey) record is one of the best."

Unfortunately, according to a PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) spokesperson, Ringling Brothers is "One of the worst!" According to the Web site, which is backed up by documentation, "In just a two-year period, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was cited for 65 violations of the Animal Welfare Act." Aside from the fact that tigers, elephants, bears are wild animals from very specific and large habitats, many of them die early from prolonged lack of water in overheated transport vehicles, repeated beatings with whips, bullhooks and other "tools," and stress from the unnatural positions of the "circus tricks."

The other side of the issue is whether circuses are contributing to the extinction of these rare animals. According to Ringling Bros., not only are none of their animals are taken from the wild, but that audiences' experience of watching these majestic creatures will make people more aware and inspired to protect them.

But PETA has a different story, one from the Asian Elephant Regional Stud Book: "The majority of Ringling's elephants were captured in the wild. In 2000, poachers killed 60 free-roaming female elephants so that their babies could be collected and sold to the entertainment industry."

Whatever Barnum & Bailey Ringling Bros. motives--good will or good PR, it's that purity of the performance that shines on the faces of these students. Nor will there be any Bengal Tigers or Polar bears at Blanchet--just one Shetland Pony and two dogs, all from local folk.

"Feld Entertainment (Ringling Bros. etc.) is very happy that we are promoting the circus arts among young people," said Mershon. The workshops certainly have had a positive effect on these students, giving them skills that will translate beyond the production or other circus work. It's Ringling Bros.' eagerness for the good PR that is of some concern. As student Brynn Lydum observed, "A lot of circuses are happy we are doing this...that a Catholic school is doing this because it brings it more in the mainstream."

Let's not forget that the new wave of companies that celebrate the circus arts, such as Circus Contraption and the famous Cirque du Soliel, involve no animals. It is more likely that these kinds of alternative circus performances have brought the circus arts back into the mainstream for productions like Barnum.

The fact remains that these kids have endured pain, long hours of rehearsal, Saturday mornings--and we all know how much Saturday mornings mean to a teen--and their inspired souls. Said Mershon, "I think the country is really ready for this. It's pure fun entertainment. There is a hopefulness to the circus and I think we need that right now."

Additional performances have been added. The show runs April 18-20, 25-27 at 7:30pm, plus 2:00 matinees on April 21 & 28. For tickets call 206-527-7704.

You can also catch the last two weekends of Circus Contraption's new 21 and over show "Gallimaufry". For info visit www.circuscontraption.com or call (206) 442-2004.

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Alma Miller	Jul 23, 2003	Los Angeles, CA	retired
Will the Barnum and Bailey Circus be performing anywhere near Seattle, Washington in August-September 2003 ?? I am anxious to get tickets but cannot find their schedule.