The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-30
The CIRCUS
REHEARSAL
Unlike Theatrical People, the
Circus Folks Have Only
One for Starter.
NONE AFTER FlRsTsa.s SHOW.
However, Individual Perform
ers Do a Lot OF Practicing
During: Winter Holiday.

Z - ! Z l. E :
( 1t Is a common saying among circus
men that ring shows" have no rehear-
st.ls. This is true in sense only. Ger
tainly such a thing as n series, of ret1ears-
ais for big circus is unknown. There
Is one dress rehearsal, and one only.
and, strange as it may seem. the first
public performance Is often as good as
the hundredth, so Ear as the quality Of
the exhibition is concerned If all opera
5tic impresario were 10 announce that he
would produce a. new opera with only q
single rehearsal the public would prob
ably think him insane, while the pro-
Queer who would attempt to put on"
a play without seeing that the company
were thoroughly familiar with the lines
and business, and the members of the
orsaniza
n accustomed with each
others methods, would find his patrons
age as limited as his period Of prcparsl-
lion.
Looking at it casually, it would seem
as though L circus would require at
least rs much rehearsing as u farce
comedy. There is the same mngling Of
vaudeville acts the same attempt to Sc
cure . laugh every other minute, and in
ono as Ia the other the comedy extends
TO q great extent in tho action rather
than the words,
II is here, however, the Inherent DIFF
ference occurs. The farce-comedy has
lines. The circus performance Is prac-
ticaliy speechless. The performance that
Is given In this city would be equally
effective in Berlin or In tho City OF
Mexico. The circus performance Is given
IN the universal language OF action, 1t
IL not necessary that the performers
should be acquainted with one aIGther.
There are no spoken cues, and the per-
former depends upon the equestrian d.
rector-the stage manager OF tho circus
10 know when to terminate his act.
Long before the circus artists report for
duty tho programme has been made UP
and his place ass gned upon 1t. This
programme Is an arch, and each per-
former Is simply a brick In It. Before
the initial performances he knows his
place; his act Is distinct and complete
in Itself, and tho only purpose Of gem
eral rehearsal is to time the performers.
so that each number made UP Of n
series Of acts may be made to terminate
simultaneously.
Performers are. however, persistent
workers. They are always rehcarsng.
All winter long. IL they are disensaged.
they win frequent the winter quarters
| OF the circus, and hour after hour will
{, erdeayorng To accomplish new ones,
1 ION the road this interchangeable quest
| for CELEBRITY and agility and something
! new continues without intcrmission. In
! the one day stands. owing to the fact
! that the majority OF the performers APP
1 pear in the parade. there is very little
| time to practice In tho morning, but day
| after day, between the shoYs--that Is.
| after the afternoon performance and be-
| fore tho doors have been opened to adj
J mt the newcomers to the night one--the
more ambitious among tho artists vii!
be found IN the rings. on the hippo
| drome track, and even on tho trnpeze
i!sgings, polishing UP "old stunts and
eagerly attempting 70 work out new
4 ONES. For the circus performer realizes
I that II - the noyel ana Gensa ,ional act
that gets the money, and that 1t is worth
/ q sHaHQn's predicting 10 be able 10 doI-
!, .bln ones salary tho following year.
1 Tho privileged few who are permitted
Il 80 Femain IN The biz hppodronc pav!l-
ions after tho performance witness some
4 in'eFesting scenes, AZ soon AZ the per-
tnmuaace Is over aud tile vast pavilion
! has bpcn cleared u the crowd. the rings