I just finished the book Circus Rings around Russia. This book is about how the circus was run in Russia when it was written in the early 1980’s along with some historical context. One thing that I found interesting was that the government used the circus as propaganda, yet there were acts (usually clowns) that would sneak in other political views into their shows. Some of these acts when caught would stick to their message and be fired, others would change.
Also in these circuses the importance of the clown is highlighted and according to the author they were really the star. The book also talks about the difference between American and Russian circuses, which is interesting.
One of the things the book mentions several times is how magicians were looked down upon. I think part of this is that you have high skill or risk act and then a magician, usually someone who does illusions. The magicians was considered a low skill/risk act when doing big box illusions. It’s not that it is low skill, it’s was perceived as that by other acts and show producers.
When I work with circus act, the difference shows in the amount of time warming up. I’ll share a green/dressing/warm up room with them and an aerialist will spend an hour stretching for a 3 minute act, where my warm up is maybe run a few new lines verbally. I can see why a circus act would consider a magician low skilled.
Overall the book was OK, and if you can find it for a few bucks and are into the circus it’s worth a read.
-Louie
