Jonathan Dark: Flea Circus Impresario
"I also have 1,833 understudies"
The Salem News has an interview with local flea circus impresario and magician Jonathan Dark. They ask him the following:
How many fleas do you have?
“There are three fleas in the circus, but I also have 1,833 understudies. I have an old-fashioned cane with a screw top that has dry ice inside. I keep them in that cane in case I use the understudies.”
What kind of tricks do they do?
“The stars of the show are Barnaby and Victor. They do a mini-chariot race that’s sort of an homage to the chariot race in ‘Ben Hur.’ There’s also Madame Fifi, who does a high-wire act. I ordered her direct from Paris. She came off a poodle there. At the end of the show, the whole troupe pushes a small carousel around.”
Isn’t it hard for the audience to see?
“You can’t really get a bead on the flea itself, but when he climbs that rope ladder you can see the ladder shaking; and when he hits the diving board, the board does a bounce; and when he hits the water, there’s a splash. Fleas can’t swim, so it’s my job to get him out of there as quickly as possible.”
Read the full article here.
Technorati: Magic flea circus
