C & B SHOW GOES ON---

Despite controversy, circus goes on in Palos Hills


From: southtownstar.com
By Casey Toner 
August 19, 2013
The first Carson & Barnes Circus performance went on as planned Monday in Palos Hills amid outrage from an animal’s rights group and controversy surrounding the circus’ involvement with statewide network for sexual assault victims.

Carson and Barnes circus performer Jacque Hollander says hello to a circus camel before her first appearance Tuesday in Palos Hills.
 The Oklahoma-based circus previously billed the sixth annual event as “Survivors Under the Stars,” a benefit for sexual abuse victims without the city’s knowledge. It initially planned to let the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault open an information booth outside the circus tent and string up a memorial of T-shirts created by rape victims.

 

A group of people ride atop an elephant prior to Monday's Carson and Barnes Circus in Palos Hills.
However, the plan was canceled after city officials said the circus was neither the time nor place for the benefit.

Despite the changes, the show went on with its colorful pageant of elephants, daredevil acrobats, silly clown antics, a moonwalking dog, and other performances. A little less than half of the seats at the circus were empty.

“This is the first time the kids got to ride an elephant,” said Palos Hills resident Maria Livigni, who brought her three girls to the show. “They are a little afraid of the clowns though.”

After intermission, performer Jacque Hollander led a parade of children around the circus ring during the song she wrote, “I am the Circus.” It was sung by teenage trapeze artist Franchesa Cavallini, who rode an elephant into the ring and alternated singing the song in English and Spanish.