There is a natural herding instinct among the cast. The musicians group together, mostly because they are called in at the same time and work together as a team. The dancers are a group for the same reason and are always rehearsing either on stage or off. The comic/Variety acts seem to hang together trying to top each other’s lines, and what they are calling the Circus acts form another clique. In the case of the acrobatic (circus acts) it is a language issue. I think they speak four different languages between them. Portuguese seems to be the one that communicates with everyone. There is no clique for the older performers, like myself, so I mostly hang with Darwin and Bob. It is okay with me for the most part. I have done my share of hanging out until all hours and I’m past trying to keep up with 25 year old athletes. 
Some of us traveled together from Tamworth to Sydney on the same plane. We were all one tribe for the flight. The highlight of the trip was to gather around Brett (the sword swallower) to watch him go through security. His swords were checked but in the violin case he carries on the plane contains his other stage props including an 18 inch dildo with a handle. In a show that is not as family friendly as this one that prop gets a great laugh when he shows it as a joke.
Security at Tamwoth did not react to the X ray picture of the large “tool” but Brett was immediately chosen for and additional “Random” screening. The fact that the Aussie TSA tried to maintain their professionalism while a circus... literally went through security made me giggle. Of course, that tagged me for an additional random screening as well. Brett and I were the only ones chosen to be additionally screened. In this case having heads in my carry on bag made me the most normal of the group.
Everyone was laughing and having a good time teasing each other. It was getting loud in the boarding lounge when someone said (in various languages.). “Hey they have free wifi” Suddenly all talking stopped and everyone was on their smart phone. There was no more loud talking, only an occasional bell sound on everyone’s phone followed by laughter. Alexandra, a beautiful acrobat and winner of Poland’s Got Talent (no really, there is a PGT and she took home the big prize) asked me if I was on Facebook. I think she was shocked when I said yes. (As I said, I am the oldest one in the cast). That’s when she looped me into a Facebook message group she created for the cast. Suddenly I knew what all the laughter was about. Roberto the juggler was making jokes about Artem the strong man. Everyone was adding their take on the thread and they were texting in English. It was the first time I understood what was going on. I got it. this is the way they were all communicating. I was wondering how they all showed up for a trip to the Marsupial Zoo in Tamworth and how they all seemed to wind up at the same bars and restuaurants. The secret communications between cast members was revealed to me.
One of the stories that I would have missed if I wasn’t a part of this group was Arianny getting bitten by a snake at the petting zoo.
Arianny is the four year old girl who is traveling with the Unbelievables. She is the daughter of Alfredo and Anna, who do a dare-devil knife throwing and cross bow act. They are 6th generation circus performers which makes Arianny the 7th generation. Arianny is as beautiful as her mother and very precocious. She is an amazing little girl. I should get the rights to Arianny’s life story and make it into a movie one day.
On an afternoon off from rehearsals Anna took Arianny to the petting zoo. She was filming Arianny interacting to a snake the zoo handler was showing to the kids. Arianny was the only one of her peers who would pet the snake. When she did the snake struck and bit her on the webbing of her left hand. It was a small constrictor so it was not poisonous but still Arianny is a four year old and it was totally unexpected. The handler panicked and pulled the snake away quickly but the fangs were stuck firmly into Arianny’s hand. The handler quickly disconnected the snake from the child’s hand and removed it from the area. Anna yelled to her daughter to see if she was okay. Arianny didn’t skip a beat nor do anything but take it in stride. She calmly said, “I’m okay.”
Because of the Facebook feed the entire cast was horrified and worried about the the four year old mascot of the tour. We were all concerned when Arianny showed up backstage that evening with a bandage on her hand. The doctors and nurses had examined her and determined that she was okay. I asked Arianny how she was doing and she said, “The snake didn’t bite me he was trying to kiss me.”
One day I will write her story, the tale of a seventh generation circus performer but until then I will just say... this whole experience is Unbelievable.
As you were,
Jay
1 comment:
So, I went grocery shopping, picked up my dry cleaning and watched a crappy Lifetime movie. And you think YOUR life is interesting!
Absolutely love reading everything about your adventure!
xoxoxoxo
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