Witnessing "The Caper in Aisle 6"

This past Wednesday night (26 June), I did a volunteer stint with Circus Flora (https://circusflora.org/) in the Grand Center Arts District (http://www.grandcenter.org/) of midtown St. Louis. This was my last scheduled shift of four this season for the show "The Caper in Aisle 6," and it was the first of the full show before a paying audience.

After helping clean some of the seats before the audience arrived, I helped welcome the audience and directed them to their seats. We had a very good crowd that night--at least 4/5 full. "The Caper in Aisle 6" involved people who could fly, anchovies, and Schnuck Markets (https://nourish.schnucks.com/).

With Yo-Yo the Narrator (Cecil MacKinnon) guiding us all, there were the Nemean Sisters performing an aerial act, then the acrobatics of Circus Harmony's St. Louis Archers (https://circusharmony.org/) took the stage. Matthew Morgan and Mooky Cornish played the manager and the grocery employer during the show. Rounding out Act I were the trained dogs and pigs of the HotDiggity Dog Show, and the high wire artistry of the Flying Wallendas (http://wallenda.com/index.html).

Trio Bellissimo showed off its contortion and hand balancing skills just before the intermission, then after the break Kellin the clown impressed us with his juggling skills.

The Daring Horseman demonstrated great trick horse riding skill, including flipping from one horse's back to another while in motion, and leaping off the horse through a flaming hoop.

Morgan and Cornish kept the story running along, and Cornish pulled a few audience members on stage for a brief show number. This was followed by the teeterboard act Duo Ikai. While that act was going on, I and the other volunteers got our instructions on helping make sure the safety nets were in place for the final act, the Flying Royals on the flying trapeze (https://www.facebook.com/TheFlyingRoyals/). I was stationed near one of the tie down points for the net, to make sure nobody from the audience gets tripped by it.

After that, the show ended with the ring crew, band, and company being recognized by Yo-Yo. I then helped make sure the audience got out of their seats and filed out of the Big Top in good order. I then helped pick up trash for a few minutes before checking out of the tent and heading home--happy to have done my bit in making Circus Flora a success and that the audience enjoyed being there.

"The Caper in Aisle 6" ends tomorrow (Sunday) night. Catch it if you can. You won't be disappointed.

Later.