Shrine Circus Coming to Barrie, but Not Without Controversy
A great article by Ian McInroy in the Barrie Examiner:
Thrills and chills await under the big top.
The Shrine Circus is coming to town for three days beginning on Friday.
There will be seven shows under the massive 400-foot by 250-foot tent which will accommodate approximately 3,000 in the round when it is erected in the Bayfield Mall parking lot later this week.
Some of the acts include the World Famous Wallendas and other high-wire performers such as the Flying Cortes Family, the death-defying Motor Cycle Globe of Fire, the Zerbini Liberty Horses and Elephants and the wacky antics of clowns, including ‘mini me’ Crithian and Sebastian.
“There’s always something for everybody under the big top,” said ringmaster Richard Curtis, a former soldier in the United States Marine Corps who has been a ringmaster for 19 years. “It’s something nostalgic that is still contemporary. Back in the day before the big silver screen, the circus performers and animal trainers were regaled like movie stars.
“We have a lot of circus tradition in our big top but we always like to keep it fresh and relevant, and bring it in a new way to capture the younger crowd.”
With the big top’s main pole stretching up about 20 metres into the sky, there will be plenty of opportunity to see some of the exciting aerial acts that have thrilled circus goers for years, Curtis said.
Rick Wallenda, of the World Famous Wallendas— whose performances go back seven generations — is the eldest grandson of Karl Wallenda.
“Rick Wallenda has done a number of skywalks like his cousin Nick. During his act underneath the big top, he pays tribute to his great ancestors,” Curtis said. “When you talk about the Wallenda family, it’s a name and a family recognized around the world.
“It’s an act that’s full of drama. You never want to see anyone get hurt but it is that element of danger that goes along with being 40 feet in the air and the thrill aspect to it.”
It is truly a family affair when it comes to the Shrine Circus, Curtis added.
“My kids ride the Globe of Death,” he said. “They’re the Real Steel Riders this year. They ride in a 12-foot ball of steel with motorcycles and then we put fire on it.”
Seeing the acts in person makes for an exciting time, he said.
“I think live entertainment is always fun because you never know what you’re going to get, especially when you’re working with different kinds of acts and animal performances. The clowns gets involved with some of the adults and the kids get to laugh at mom and dad who might be out in the ring,” Curtis said. “It’s still a reasonable way to get away with the family for a day.”
But circuses are not without controversy, something the ringmaster acknowledges.
For years, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has chastised circuses for the mistreatment of animals. The organization is currently suing the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service over its policy regarding the Endangered Species Act.
One Barrie woman is concerned about how circus elephants are treated and wonders why the show couldn’t be restricted to acts involving just humans.
“I applaud the Shriners for their valuable fundraising, but I don’t think that it should be at the expense of the performing animals,” said Cathy Johnson. “The elephants, and other wild animals who are used in circuses, often endure inhumane and abusive training and living conditions. When they are not performing, they may spend most of their time in extremely close confinement.”
Curtis insists that’s not the case with the elephants and horses in the Shrine Circus.
“I can firmly stand in front as the ambassador and the host of the show knowing these animals are treated fairly,” he said. “Their care is impeccable. I know we’re doing the right thing and our producer actively supports the Two Tails Ranch in central Florida and asianelephantsupport.org overseas for the conservation aspect of it.”
Curtis said there is an education and awareness aspect to the shows.
“One of the factoids we share with the audience is over the last five years, 67% of the entire Asian elephant population worldwide has vanished because of poaching and habitat loss,” he said. “One of the only ways to prevent these animals from becoming extinct would be through captive conservation and breeding programs.”
In regards to protesters at circuses who voice their objection to animals being mistreated, “everybody deserves a voice,” Curtis said.
“I believe for me to close my eyes and say bad things haven’t been done with animals would be neglectful on my part,” he said. “But I don’t think everybody should be lumped in the same basket as some of the other entities out there that are handling and dealing with animals.
“At any point we can be inspected without any announcement that it’s going to happen,” he added.
To learn more about the Shrine Circus, visit www.shrine-circus.com.
Post seen on The Barrie Examiner