Under the Big Top
Giuliano Plurotti’s book of photographs of small-town circuses, which we found on a shelf in our local library, captivated us with its black-and-white portrayals of performers and animals behind the scenes. Eschewing the glitzy, glossy glamour on display in typical circus posters, Plurotti reveals the human side of the talented though often marginalized performers who carry on the tradition of traveling circuses in European countries such as Hungary, Italy, France, and Czechia.
People have widely varying opinions about circuses today. Some continue to enjoy their allure and theatricality, as well as the virtuosity they bring to their audiences. Others raise concerns about the treatment of circus animals and the working conditions overall. What are your thoughts on the subject?
We confess to being big fans of Cirque du Soleil, the extraordinary French-Canadian troupe that performs in our area at least once a year. They regularly astound us with their imaginative programs and mind-bending feats of strength, agility, and daring. If you’ve never taken in one of their shows, give one a try!
This week’s acrostic includes a variety of circus-themed words and phrases, including two that refer to Charles S. Stratton, a.k.a. General Tom Thumb (pictured above), who came to fame in P.T. Barnum’s circus in the mid-1800s. What other themed clues and answers did you spot?
And if you’ve never seen the 2017 film “The Greatest Showman,” or just want to see the final scene once again, here it is: