From Ken Kawata

RBBB Gold Unit, 1 August 2009 Coney Island was once a prosperous entertainment section of New York, but in recent decades this part of Brooklyn gradually deteriorated and lost its prominence. Amusement rides that once enjoyed unparalleled popularity seem all but forgotten. As a part of the plan to revive Coney Island, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey (Gold Unit) arrived for the summer months in 2009. The expectations are high, and there is hope that this will become an annual event. On Saturday 1 August Jean and I visited Coney Island and found out that the location for RBBB is ideal, right off the famous boardwalk and close to a subway station. We pulled in a large parking lot ($10 which is not bad) adjacent to the big top. The weather was perfect, sunny and with plenty of breeze from the sea. We had purchased tickets for the 2:30 p.m. show, but as usual we first stopped by to see animals and chat with animal people. Inside the tent a large sign "Animal Open House" jumps at you; ticket holders can enter this area 90 minutes before showtime to see elephants, tigers and an assortment of domesticated animals such as llama, donkey, horse and dwarf zebu. Those who care for the animals are expected to greet visitors and talk about their charges. We first met with Heidi Herriott from the American family of animal trainers, who attends the group of domesticated animals supplies by Bob Commerford. Heidi was kindly introduced to me by Mike Naughton. After a few minutes of pleasant conversation we move next door (tent, really) and Ramon Esqueda, the elephant man originally from a Mexican circus family, greets us. A conversation with this friendly man focuses on anti-circus extremists, and as we compare notes I find out that we share the same view, and that my experience with vocal anti-zoo people is identical to that of his. Whether against circuses or zoos they come from the same roots, hostility toward captivity itself. It is time to be seated for the show. Looking around, we note what we confirmed in the previous week at Cole Bros. show in Staten Island: The diversity in the crowd. Compared with other cities there are more black and Hispanic families, reflecting the demography of New York which I think is healthy. Because circuses are for everybody. The difference between the Cole Bros. and RBBB tents is that show area in the latter is air-conditioned. Although the temperature has been lower than usual in New York, the comfort of the cooled air is much appreciated. Gold Unit has a single-ring operation, allowing us to concentrate on each act. There is no designated ringmaster per se. Juggling clowns open the show, followed by the excellent bike act by Justin Case. The dog act with dachshunds by Diana Vedyashkina is enjoyable. Next comes an aerial rope act, called cloud swing. Then three female Asian elephants, all middle-aged, enter the arena. They belong to Carson & Barnes in Hugo, Oklahoma. (An impressive Asian tusker, featured in the program, is apparently not with the Gold Unit at this time.) They follow the standard format with no stressful tricks such as a one-leg stand. That is fine by me, and I think that is partly because they are already into middle age. Elephants conclude the first part and after a 16-minute intermission, it is time for six white tigers (one has a touch of light brown). Conducted by Vicenta Pages they leap, jump, roll and continue more routine work. While watching the smooth act, I note something in common shared by big cats in circuses in recent years. Not so long ago, the cats exhibited behaviors that were automatically expected of large carnivores. I would not call it hostility, but most possessed fierceness; they growled, hissed and frequently swung their paws at the trainer; they trotted in the ring instead of walking slowly. There was an element of danger, not to mention excitement and thrill. We were spellbound and watched them in awe. By compassion, today's cats in the ring do not appear to be wild carnivores. They seem so content, not keenly alert and just "go through the motion." (This, of course, is my personal opinion.) After the tigers are retired Ms. Pages also performs an aerial ring act. Aerial pole balancing and more clowns follow, then comes the perch act, which is a bicycle act on a high pole. Justin Case makes another appearance with bikes, and the audience eats it up. Rather unusual in recent years is the archer act by a crossbow master, with elaborate and varying targets including an apple, a la William Tell. Three motorcycles in a globe, followed by floor acrobatics conclude the show with the finale, the parade. Although I miss the aerial trapeze act, and conspicuously absent for this show is a liberty horse act, the overall impression of the Gold Unit is a favorable one. There are not many costumed dancing girls who appear repeatedly (after a while I get the impression that they are space fillers). In other words there is little fluff, which is a good sign. We sure hope that RBBB will make the circus a summer event in New York, just as the Big Apple is an established winter visitor at the Lincoln Center in Manhattan. Ken Kawata