Circus Flora: St. Louis' Own Circus with a Story

Everybody loves a circus. Wild animals in a cage with the fearless handler. Elephants parading under the big top with the trunk of one holding the tail of the other. Thrilling exhibits of skill and courage brought on by the tight rope walkers and those flying through the air on the trapeze. Beautiful ladies on horseback. The hilarious antics of funny clowns causing laughter and tears of joy . The aroma of popcorn and hot dogs mingled with the smell of sawdust. And cotton candy. Yet, the typical circus has a flaw. One act follows another and then another without a storyline to bring the acts together. Maybe that is why Circus Flora, St. Louis' very own circus, is so atypical.

Circus Flora is a St. Louis tradition and has been an integral part of the St. Louis landscape since 1987. Circus Flora is first and foremost a theatrical production. If your forte is watching lions, tigers and bears prodded into submission with a whip and chair, seek out the bigger circuses to satisfy your needs. Circus Flora, much like a Shakespearean play, is pure theatre with the added bonus of European circus traditions and skills weaved into the storyline. A narrator supplants the traditional circus ringmaster and begins to unravel the theme of the production. The actors, both human and animal, arrive on cue at the center of the one ring, sawdust floor stage . The storyline flows throughout the performance.

There is something for everyone under this St. Louis big top which seats approximately 1100. Star studded European acts like the Flying Wallendas and Giovanni Zoppe, a.k.a. Nino the Clown, merge with local talent, such as the St. Louis Arches, a group of young high flying gymnasts. Jugglers juggle, bareback riders ride and clowns clown around to the delight of young and old alike. The Flying Pages kept all on the edge of their seats as they performed dangerous and death defying acts on the flying trapeze.

Circus Flora runs from June 4 - June 21 so there is still time to attend. The air conditioned big top is pitched on the parking lot of Powell Symphony Hall at Grand Center, the home of performing arts in St. Louis. Tickets are reasonably priced from $8.00 - $36.00 depending upon the show time and seating locations and well worth it. Parking in adjacent lots will cost between $4-$8, but street parking is available for those willing to walk a bit.

And, yes, cotton candy along with other traditional circus staples and souvenirs are available at the concession tent

Source:
www.circusflora.org