| A TWICE WEEKLY SERIAL OF BIG TOP FOLK BY
SIMON PARKE |
|
EPISODE 12
MADAME STEVENS
Burt and Davido are sitting ringside; mid-afternoon languor in the air. A stilt and stunt rehearsal continues; but mainly, it's downtime. The troupe play cards, sleep or stitch costumes, waiting only for the evening show.
"You'll remember Madame Stevens," says Burt.
Davido looks quizzical.
"You know – the Pig-Faced Lady, at the Hyde Park Exhibition in 1851?"
"1851?" says Davido. "I can't say I was there."
"Well, Madame Stevens was in fact a brown bear whose face had been clean-shaven."
"Nice."
"She had white gloves over her paws, and white arms above them – again, the work of the razor."
"Sounds like one or two women I know."
"She sat at a table in bonnet, shawl and frock. Beneath the table was a boy with a stick. He'd prod her every time the showman asked a question, to make her grunt. Following each grunt, the showman would explain to the audience: 'As you see, ladies and gentlemen, the young lady understands what is said, though the peculiar formation of her jaws has deprived her of the power of uttering human speech.'"
"I don't approve of the animal stuff," says Davido.
"And then the climax of the show! The showman asks her about matrimony – you know, if she met the right man, would she contemplate it? And now the boy underneath the table prods her even more vigorously, provoking angrier grunts from the wretched creature. 'All right, all right!' says the showman. 'I was only asking!' After which, he passes round the hat."
Davido gets up to go, brushing down his beige chinos.
"A story about exploitation," says Burt.
"A story about a gullible crowd, more like."
"About making any creature – animal or human – a tool for your own profit or advancement," continues Burt. "Uncomfortable thought for a circus manager, eh?"
"Maybe."
"Or indeed for any who would be king."
As a would-be king, the Great Davido is restless.
"I must prepare for tonight," he says.
"So make them gasp!" says Burt, in true circus style.
Davido flourishes a bow, and is on his slick way. He always makes them gasp.
More clowning around |
