Fun for the whole family
July 16th, 2009
I tend to have words for every occasion, but the other night, when my friend Richard Verdoni, who comes from the family that runs the Hermanos Atayde Circus, invited me to see the show, it left me speechless.
It had been literally decades since I’d last seen a circus. Writers are not supposed to use clichés, so forgive me for the following: I felt like a child again. My mouth gaped through many of the acts, particulary the tightrope walker.
As a boy my favorite story was Toby Tyler, about a child who runs away to join the circus. Does the fact that to be Toby’s story was my dream say too much about the kind of family in which I grew up? Or do all kids dream about running away and joining the circus?
Click here for more information about the Hermanos Atayde Circus, which is playing throughout the summer. If you go, you can see this tiger doing the moonwalk to the tune of “Billie Jean.”
9 Responses to “Fun for the whole family”
By Judy on Jul 16, 2009
“Hay emoción, hay alegría para toda la familia.
Vamos, vamos, vamos al Circo Atayde Hermanos”.
That was their jingle, which will forever live in my memory. Glad to know they’re still around.
By Sadie on Jul 16, 2009
I don’t know what it says about your family that you wanted to be Toby Tyler, but some grown-ups still dream about running away and joining the circus. It’s a hard life but there is magic there.
By Richard on Jul 16, 2009
Hi David,
It’s always fun to share the circus magic and unique fun that can bring us to a place where having a second childhood – even for a couple of hours – is possible. Here’s a link from an act I posted on a video site:
Strong Men – Circus Arts Special – Click here for funny video clips
By Kenn on Jul 16, 2009
Good day, David,
Yes, we both ran away and joined the circus with its magic by moving to the greatest circus of all, Mexico City. I have definitely found magic in Mexico City.
Kenn
By Dave on Jul 17, 2009
We too have gone to some circuses and have been surprised and delighted. Up here in Wisconsin, we’re impressed by the number of Mexican performers. but also heard recently that this isn’t just a recent phenomenon-several famous trapeze artists in years past were Mexican.
By Michael Warshauer on Jul 19, 2009
Thanks, David, for bringing this to our attention. We’ll be in el DF next weekend and plan to visit the CIrco Atayde on Monday evening.
Saludos,
Don Cuevas y Doña Cuevas
By Mexico Cooks! on Jul 19, 2009
You’ll enjoy a look at Mexico Cooks! visit to the Circo Hermanos Atayde when it stopped in Morelia last summer. We had a fabulous time!
http://mexicocooks.typepad.com/mexico_cooks/2008/09/circo-hermanos-atayde-atayde-brothers-circus.html
Cristina
By Armin on Jul 28, 2009
I enjoy reading all your posts. However, I was disturbed by your enthusiasm for the circus. I once shared such enthusiasm but the fact of the matter is that elephants don’t climb up pedestals to dance by their nature, nor do tigers do the moon walk out of their love of music. Unfortunately our joy and our laughter mask the pain that is inflicted on circus animals. I am not a full blown PETA person…but you must take an honest look at their documentation of the abusive reality to which these animals are subjected.
The circus engenders nostaligia at its very mention. Perhaps that is why PT Barnum was known by his maxim: A sucker is born every minute.
By Michael Warshauer on Jul 29, 2009
We did attend on Monday afternoon, and it was very enjoyable. The Circo Atayde Hermanos is a small jewel of a traditional circus. We used a 40% off Mondays only coupon from their web site, and our front row (Preferente) seats were only $240 MXN for the two of us.
I was also delighted by the unexpected lovely dancers who graced the ring at times.
(My most favorite act was that of the tumblers, dressed in fluorescent Harlequin outfits. Truly a visual delight among many others.)
Saludos,
Don Cuevas