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.

Helping Out at Circus Flora

Once again this year, I am volunteering for Circus Flora (https://circusflora.org/) in Midtown St. Louis' Grand Center Arts District (http://www.grandcenter.org/). This year's show is "The Caper in Aisle 6," which involves an element giving people the ability to fly and Schnucks Supermarkets (https://nourish.schnucks.com/).

I first helped out this year on 5 June--the night before the show opened--joining with others to clean the seats and get the Big Top interior ready for opening night. The rehearsal show took place that night, so I was able to get a sense of the acts on the program this year and how they would all tie together.

The next two Wednesdays (12 and 19 June), I volunteered at the morning shows for children, which were only half as long and with fewer acts as the regular show during the evenings. For these, I helped make sure the seats were cleaned and acted as an usher. The show on the 12th had a power outage about one third of the way in, and we had to help improvise some lighting for the stage until the power came back up later in the show. Fortunately, the show went on.

Last night (23 June), after the early evening show, I joined with other show volunteers at their annual party. We sat for a group photo, and received words of thanks for helping out so far this year. Then, we entered the ring for a buffet dinner, featuring fried chicken from Hodaks (http://hodaks.com/). It was a most tasty meal, and we were joined by many of the performers. I had to leave fairly early, due to having to get up early today for a busy day at work. Still, this was a good reward for all our hard work for the circus.

Later.