'Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey' Circus, 'Manchester', NH -- Nov. 17, 2024: Was Good. Nearly Very Good.

 

➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

This is the the first time 'Ringling Brothers ...' [The Greatest Show On Earth] has been in New Hampshire since 2017. We were there for that last show. I took 300 pictures to remember it by. Prior to that, we had been going each year to this circus since 2012. So, this was the seventh time I have seen this circus, in 'Manchester', at this same venue. So, I am in a position to compare and contrast.

This is the NO LIVE ANIMAL show.

I (having grown up with elephants) had no issues with the elephants, but, I will confess, the BIG CAT performance did use to bother me. Well the die is cast. Folks forced them to drop all the animal acts. It wasn't the same without the elephants.

It was good. Borderline very good. It probably was very good, but I am jaded and comparing it to those of the past.

Absolutely no question that it is scaled back. More low budget. It shows. The acts were good but you could tell they weren't the best. There were no acts from China!

There were three mishaps ... accidents. No one got hurt (at least badly), but these were genuine accidents. I have never seen that before -- & definitely not three various obvious one in the same show.

The kids loved it. They were mesmerized. And, as far as I am concerned, it is all for the kids -- not for old, jaded folks like me.

But, we have a problem. The performance I went to (4pm & the last show in NH), was not sold out. Lots & lots of empty seats. I heard from folks that this was the case with all the shows -- i.e., lots of empty seats. So, it is possible that they might not come back! Yikes. That would be bad & sad.

                                                                       ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

Bottom line: It was good. Glad I went. I hope they come back. I will go again. I try to go to at least one circus each year. This was my second. SMILE. Saw a Cirque in September. SMILE.