Review of "The Ordinary Acrobat" by Duncan Wall - a Fulbright Scholar Learns Circus Arts and Circus History

This title jumped out at me when I first read it: "The Ordinary Acrobat: A Journey into the Wondrous World of the Circus, Past and Present."  I have recently been immersed in the world of acrobats by coming to know some members of Les 7 Doigts de la Main, Gypsy Snider's Montreal-based troupe of performers. Several members of that company, along with a few additional circus veterans have been wonderfully integrated into the cast of the current Broadway production of Pippin.  Getting to know them and their artistry made me eager to read Duncan Wall's memoir of his year in Paris as a Fulbright Scholar studying circus arts and the history of circus.

When I saw Pippin in its production at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA, I was intrigued by what I found to be a unique blend of theater and circus.  Wall's book provides some wonderful historical perspective that made me realize that Diane Paulus and Gypsy Snider were re-imagining a blending of arts that hark back to the beginning of the 19th century:

"The beginning of the nineteenth century also marked a time of unparalleled openness and creativity, because the circus was still defining itself as a theatrical form.  On the road, circus owners adopted local traditions to woo audiences.  In Turkey, Soullier rebranded his show the Cirque Imperial and adopted a Turkish colonel's uniform.  In 1854, he packed off to Asia, where he discovered Chinese acrobats - plate-spinners, hoop-divers, and perch-pole balancers.  In Europe, circus moguls experimented with form.  They constructed building featuring both rings and stages.  They hired writers to pen circus scripts with characters and plots.  There was almost no distinction between genres.  Equestrians graced royal stages.  Ropewalkers recited soliloquies on the cords.  Almost a century later, the great Russian theater director, Vsevolod Meyerhold would proclaim that there was 'no true dividing line between the circus and the theatre,' and for a brief time, this was true." (Page 135)

It is true again, as audience will experience beginning in a few weeks at Broadway's Music Box theater.  When the curtain rises on Pippin, the company will be writing a new chapter in Duncan Wall's history of circus.

This is a book that will be enjoyed by "children of all ages"!

Enjoy!

Al

Review of "The Queen's Gambit" by Walter Tevis

A friend whose literary opinions I respect suggested that I would enjoy Walter Tevis' classic novel, "The Queen's Gambit."  That friend could not have been more correct.  What a fascinating work.  It is a coming of age tale that tells the story of an American orphan girl who learns to play chess in stolen hours in the basement of the orphanage where she is held in check.  Her tutor is the taciturn janitor.  It becomes clear that she is a prodigy.  As a 12-year old, she is finally adopted by a dysfunctional couple who separate permanently within hours after Elizabeth Harmon arrives in her new home.  He adoptive mother, Mrs. Wheatley, does her best to encourage Beth's chess career - primarily because they need the winnings to cover living expenses.

Along the way, Beth develops into a world class chess player, finding mentors, studying the history of the game, battling the prejudices of the all-male enclave that is the world of serious chess.  She learns to see the chess board as intersecting lines of force.  In her own life, she tries hard to gain mastery over intersecting forces - drug and alcohol abuse, a distrustful nature, shyness, fear of the future and a sense of wonder at how high she can climb up the ladder in the kingdom of chess.

The book is deeply moving, and although I am not by any means an expert in chess, following her progression through specific tournament games was fascinating to me.

Enjoy!

Al