Published August 29, 2002, in issue #30 of The Hook

BY REBECCA BEIRNE

The Sterling & Reid Bros. Circus was in Charlottesville at the Bagby Showgrounds on High Street August 21 and 22. I knew I was in for a real treat when I saw a colorful sign that read "Two-Headed Baby, Real Life."

Cirque du Soleil it was not. Imagine a scaled-down version of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus meets Ripley's Believe it Or Not, with a little dash of East European flair thrown in. This circus had tigers that jumped through firey rings, contortionists that stacked themselves one atop the other, tutu-clad elephants who stood on their elbows. I was not disappointed.

The bleachers were filled to capacity with families spellbound by the three-ring circus that had a little something for everybody. When the Sterling & Reid Bros. Circus comes to Charlottesville next year, I urge you to go. This type of circus won't be around forever, and you'll be treated to a real slice of Americana.

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Photos:

1) Bruce Moir, who started with Ringling Bros. in 1969

2) Fun for all

3) Fabian Ybarra, fourth generation circus worker, and J.R. Hansen, third generation circus worker

4) Buzzy & Tommy White

5) Vic Morris

6) Shannon Daly

7) Two-Headed Baby Sign

8) Mark Pierson, who has been with various circuses for the past 26 years, and Joy, a 22-yr-old African female elephant. Mark has known Joy since she was six years old.

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