Friday, August 30, 2013

C & B--Canton

Carson & Barnes brings bigtop back
The thermometer was in the 90s but that didn't stop both young and old from entering the big top Wednesday to see the Carson & Barnes Circus at the Fulton County fairgrounds in Lewistown.


Alyse Thompson
From:  cantondailyledger.com
ByLarry Eskridge, Daily Ledger Reporter
Aug. 29, 2013
LEWISTOWN — The thermometer was in the 90s but that didn't stop both young and old from entering the big top Wednesday to see the Carson & Barnes Circus at the Fulton County fairgrounds in Lewistown.
Sponsored by the Lewistown Chamber of Commerce, performers from all around the world performed feats of strength, acrobatic skill and comedy for an enthusiastic audience at the early show, with another scheduled for later that evening.
For some, the show began early as members of Lewistown Fire and Rescue hosed down some of the animals. The elephants seemed to enjoy the experience, although the camels did not seem so sure.
Dereck Hardisty, a fire and rescue member, said showering the animals was "a lot different than a house fire."
As show time drew near, audience members were greeted by the clowns who juggled, joked and posed for pictures. One little girl was not particularly interested in getting too close, but her grandmother had no trouble.
"It happens sometimes," the clown shrugged.
According to circus employees, the tent housing the "world's biggest big top show" takes about four hours to put up. That's not counting all the other attractions, which included a petting zoo, concessions and elephant and camel rides.
The show inside the big top had all the trappings of a traditional circus — acrobats, jugglers, trapeze artists, animals, dazzling costumes in the form of butterflies or Native American dress and, of course, clownsWhether competing in a juggling contest, dancing "gangnam style," performing a slapstick salute to the Rocky movies or performing a knife throwing act, which included local volunteer B.J. Stone putting his life and limb on the line, the three comedic performers entertained the audience as well as keeping the pace moving while the crew set up for the next acts.
Also popular with the audience were the animal acts, which featured one dog doing a moonwalk to Michael Jackson's "Beat It," horses moving in a precision dance pattern and elephants showing agility as they circled the ring.
In addition, there were acrobatic and aerial displays, many of the latter performed without nets. Some acts included two men taking part in an exhibition of strength and balance with precise, almost balletic movements and a group of trapeze artists from Italy who drew gasps as they performed their feats of daring high above the ring.
 
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Alyse Thompson
Singer Franchesca Cavallini also performed her original song, "I Am the Circus" while riding on an elephant. CDs of the song were on sale after the show, with proceeds being donated to help the endangered Asian elephant.
The show ended with a salute to America by the performers, most of whom came from South and Central America and Europe.
After the show, a number of youngsters shared their favorite moments with the Ledger, although one young man, three-and-a-half-year-old Alex, declined as he was in a bad mood because he hadn't had his nap.
Read more: http://www.cantondailyledger.com/article/20130829/NEWS/130829211/1001/NEWS#ixzz2dTRSMaqu

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