When so many young people are trained in athletic sports, calisthenics,
delsarte exercises, etc., why not form an amateur circus company?
Limit the number to twenty four, the girls and boys being equal or
unequal in number, as seems best. Such a company might easily arrange
an attractive entertainment, and invite their friends to an occasional
matinée performance, or, should they feel inclined, they could give a
performance as a charity benefit.
Musicians, tricksters, clowns, animals and a ring would be required.
The space for the ring would be the most difficult to obtain, but many
people have large shady grounds connected with their homes that it
would be a pleasure to lend to their young friends.
Outline a ring as you would mark a court, and make it sufficiently
large to comfortably give your exhibition. Do not attempt a tent.
Place the seats for your audience six feet back of the ring, as this
allows freedom for both performers and spectators. Keep an entrance to
the ring free, so that performers do not disarrange the seats.
As nearly as possible, copy the programme of the regular circus;
therefore, the first display should be the grand tournament and
triumphal _entrée_, when the entire company should march several times
around the ring. Every one should look fantastic; some of the girls
might go bareheaded, others wear wreaths of artificial flowers, and
again others wear jaunty caps, etc. Remember that fancy-colored paper,
muslin, gold paper, and spangles, will give showy effect. The clowns
should be either very thin or very stout. The thin ones may be made
stout by building themselves with cotton batting. A noticeable costume
for the clowns might be white muslin, showered with gold and silver
stars and spangles, or yellow muslin ornamented with silver or red full
moons, circles or polka dots. And their head covering might be white
beaver hats or fools’ caps.
Throughout the procession, carry numerous flags and banners. An
effective banner might be made of white canton flannel, showered with
diamond dust; indeed make the _entrée_ as gay as flowers, color and
spangles can produce.
The entire company should be active members, some of them being the
drum corps, others musicians; comic songs should be sung by the funny
clown, assisted by a chorus.
There should be walking and running matches, three-legged and sack
races, jumping, fancy tumbling, sensational feats of all sorts. There
could be a mimic football match, and a tennis tournament between those
who had never held a racket; indeed anything could be introduced that
would give genuine fun. The clowns should tell several jokes, and
laughable stories, ride pigs, cows, and make themselves generally
ridiculous.
Perhaps some of the company could borrow trained dogs or other trained
animals. If so, remember that tricks are always entertaining.