La Grande Fete Lilloise Du Cirque.

John Cooper writes:

Friends, if you are reading this it is as a result of my sending it to North Dakota's finest. But the executors of Peggy Lee's estate returned it with the suggestion that it would be of more use to The Great Burck, who might manage to add some pretty pictures by way of illustration.

As anticipated, I have been to see the Circus Festival at Lille, France, making the journey from London directly by train - which goes under the wet bit. Here I shall give you some idea of the animal acts involved (that being the basic interest of this blog) and mention some human acts I know have worked in circus in America, most readers being American, it seems. Thus you will get a taste of European circus.

Tommy Dieck (otherwise Tom Dieck Jr - but programmed as Tommy Dieck Jr, just to confuse matters) opened the second half with his group of 3 maned male lions and 2 lionesses, the 2 tigresses being left out for the performance I saw. All props remained in the same place throughout, thus eliminating the dead time in moving them. I am not going to detail the act in full, but suffice it to say there were a fair few sit-ups, a lot of jumps, and a fake attack. Tom Sr (who is German, Mum (Gillian) being British) was on the gate. To complete the picture, Tommy was born in France (so I suppose his nationality is Circus!).

Rene Casselly's liberty act involved 4 African elephants and as many horses. Both species work together, and it is certainly not a case of 2 independent acts occupying the same space. Rene's wife Alexia was on hand, and I did see Rene Jr around but, alas, did not spot daughter Merrylu. The Casselly family returns to Denmark's Cirkus Arena (which supplied the tent and other relevant equipment for the Festival) for the 2009 season.
The only other animal act was the bears of The Alexandrovs (Yuri and Natalia, plus their son) whose photo appeared on this site a while ago under an "Unknown" heading. However there are now 3 bears rather than the pictures 2, and an Old English Sheepdog replaces the St Bernard. (It is not an up-to-date photo!) Not having seen an uncaged bear act for ages, I have no real standard for comparison, but I was happy with everything both in the ring and out
Additionally, there were 3 acts that have worked on The Big Apple Circus in the not-too-distant past. Clowns Fumagalli and Darix (brothers Gianni and Darix Huesca) were on the 2007 - 08 tour and do not seem to have either gained or lost lost from the experience. Willer Nicoldi is a capable and entertaining ventriloquist who uses audience "volunteers" without making them look foolish. And juggler Picaso Jr (also with Barnum's Kaleidoscape) is technically brilliant as well as being a superb showman.

Wade did run a photo of the show's finale with a carousel suspended above the ring. I'd anticipated that it was inflated, but it seems that the material just expand naturally once it's flown and the air gets inside it.

There you have it. If you've found this interesting, Maybe I can do the same sort of thing for other European shows in future. In the meantime, if you have any questions, Please keep them to yourself!!!!!

John Cooper Circus Review Complaint Department. Insert all negative/anonymous comments here. They will be addressed the moment hell freezes over.
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Thank you for the review, and for taking the time out of your busy, busy schedule to provide it. When you get another break in that busy schedule, I've got something you can Peggy Lee RIGHT HERE!!! I am pleased to see the bear act. I was not aware until recently, as I understand it, that a ban had been placed on primates as well as bears in the circus. Is that correct? "Under the wet bit!!!" You Brits kill me. You take all kinds of "creative liberties" with your Queen's English, don't you. LOL
Thank you, Mate