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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Kind of Adventure,
By A Customer
This review is from: Circus Smirkus: A True Story of High Adventure & Low Comedy (Paperback)
Rob Mermin turned his dream into an real-life adventure, then made it possible for a lot of kids to do the same. Circus Smirkus, the circus, is a touring YOUTH circus - the stars are all teenagers who get to spend an entire summer training and peforming with circus professionals from around the world. It's a very exciting, very professional company, who perform in a real European style Big Top. The kids get totally immersed in Circus life, almost like being part of a traditional old circus family. Circus Smirkus, the book, is a fascinating description of why and how Mermin founded this amazing company, and what it's like to become a part of it. It's full of interesting anecdotes about Mermin's own circus adventures, portrays the Circus Smirkus philosophy, highlights some of the kids who've been Smirkus Troupers, and introduces some very intriguing circus stars who share Mermin's vision. It would be nice if the photos had been in color, but there are lots of them. It would be nice if the book continued past the first ten years (I certainly hope they update it soon). But it's a wonderful read for anyone interested in the circus, in successful youth programs, or simply in reading about people who share their vision, talent, and adventures freely with the rest of us. I wish something like this had been around when I was a kid!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Circus Smirkus is a Modern Paradigm for Success in Business,
This review is from: Circus Smirkus: A True Story of High Adventure & Low Comedy (Paperback)
Circus Smirkus. A True Story of High Adventure and Low Comedy. By Rob Mermin. Foreword by Marcel Marceau. Illustrated 96 pages. ISBN 0-9658076-06. Published by Circus Barn (1 Circus Rd, Greensboro, VT. 05841. Tel: 802-533-7443)Circus Smirkus is a unique, small professional international youth traveling circus with a very large, well-deserved reputation and the lessons of its success have universal appeal. Accordingly, this book is much more than the true story of Circus Smirkus, just as Circus Smirkus, itself, is much more than simply a fine circus. Written in an entertaining and joyful manner by Rob Mermin, clown, veteran circus performer and circus founder, and now author, the book tells a fascinating true story how Circus Smirkus accomplishes its "magic." As Mr. Mermin explains, Circus Smirkus coaches youth and adults in communication, collaboration, cooperation, and catalyzing while sharing the joy and happiness with its audience and having fun at the same time. These simple, yet often misunderstood qualities are the keys to its success and can have far reaching affects far beyond the circus ring into the arena of modern life and business. (Please see Sidebar A "Circus Smirkus is a Modern Paradigm for Success in Business and in Life.") Thus the book can be read and enjoyed by children of all ages for its wonderful story and real-life lessons. Although, in laid back style, it bills itself as "Vermont's Own Home-Grown Country Circus," it is much more than that. Using a systematic, stepladder approach, Circus Smirkus provides serious circus arts training to people of different age groups. Through its schools program it trains to young children. Through its beginning and advanced summer circus camps, it trains older children and teenagers. And through its traveling Circus, for which it is best known, it trains mostly teenagers and young adults to age 21 who collaborate with circus professionals in the Tour and special Mentor/Apprentice program. To many parents, a child's wanting to join a circus is a frivolous request which parents hope they will grow out of. When a young Rob Mermin informed his mother Dottie that for some inexplicable reason he had to join a circus, learn about circus arts, and hopefully some day would bring joy and happiness to many, she responded: "Circus, shmircus...go get a real job." So, as Rob recounts, he did BOTH! He spent twenty years gaining valuable circus experience, "paying his dues," and working very, very hard. He traveled with several European circuses including being the clown in Copenhagen's prestigious Circus Benneweis, performed with many great European clown trios, did a Comedy Mule Riding act, and performed a wide variety of circus arts. Then, in 1987, he decided to bring the European circus style to America and formed his own circus. In loving living tribute to his mother and representing the "child" in him, called it "Circus Smirkus." Although the name may sound funny, it is a serious undertaking. "I wanted", Mr. Mermin writes, "to give kids the chance I once had to run away and join the circus, without having to run away from home. And kids in rural Vermont had very little chance to even see a circus, much less consider joining one." So starting with an old farm barn in rural Vermont's "Northeast Kingdom," a very different circus took root. Rob Mermin recounts how that dream grew, spread and has been shared by audiences not only in New England, but also throughout the world. The plot of Circus Smirkus, the book, reads like the script for an award-winning Disney movie. It has cute, smiling, talented young children who through hard work, long hours, continual practice perform incredible feats. It has close mentoring partnerships and collaboration between teenagers and adults that make dreams come true. It has created admirers out of skeptics. It has overcome extreme adversity and financial problems. It has triumphed over extreme tragedy. It has endearing animal friends with names like the Skunko family which sprayed their emotions, the Rocky Raccoons (Ricky, Tikki, Tavi) who were found orphaned and nursed back to life, and Rufus, Rob's canine clown companion. It has foreign travel and foreign performers. And it continues to spread the incredible strength of human spirit, love, and personal and shared joy to people wherever it goes. Mr. Mermin's dynamism and drive attracted both dreamers and doers. He brought together hundreds of talented youth and many circus professionals from differing fields, with diverse talents, and from different countries. During its first decade, over 140 youth became "Smirkos" (the name given to the troupers) and a much larger number participated in six week Summer Circus Training Camps and School Programs. At first, they came locally from Vermont. But as the show toured and word spread, they flocked from around America as well as Israel, England, Mongolia, Russia, and China. Smirko graduates now perform with the biggest (Ringling Bros.) and best (Cirque du Soleil, Big Apple Circus) circuses in the world. As Smirkus' reputation widened, more youth sought to join the Tour. Every winter in Vermont auditions are held and those living far away send home videos displaying their talent and desire. The troupers themselves are a varied mix of individuals, from many different nationalities, countries, and places. As Rob writes, each kid "comes to tryouts carrying two metaphorical suitcases: one contains Skills, the other Talent, with each suitcase packed to different levels.... The fulcrum, the real factor in maintaining balance, is character. We often take kids with only a few skills in their suitcase, but who carry a knapsack fully packed with personality. Mostly, we look for potentials, and that sparkle in the eyes. A talent for enthusiasm, a skill for learning, and an interesting character are what we look for in a Smirkus trouper." In mid-June, Circus Smirkus's 30 youth and professional Troupers, plus professional circus performers, tent riggers, cooks, and staff (around 70 people in all) spend two intensive weeks training and collaborating in an old Vermont farm to put together a two-hour themed circus. During the next six weeks of July and August, the Troupe and crew traverse New England, together erecting (and afterwards dismantling) their big top circus tent and putting on over 50 performances in about 20 communities. Each Circus Smirkus performance is a spectacle and unpredictable with its own humor and traditions. Every year, unexpected things happen. The book is loaded with poignant stories and abundant illustrations about the Smirko's adventures. Included are funny pranks, moving stories of homesickness which is only forgotten during performances, a horrible case of food poisoning which threatened to cancel the show yet trouper dedication and will power let the show continue and the audience knew nothing. The circus has even been the stage for several wedding proposals in which Smirko clowns (with the proposing groom dressed as a clown) surround an unsuspecting woman, and then the clown/groom "pops" the question in front of the audience. The surprised woman accepts, and when the audience realizes that it is real, erupts with thundering applause. Circus Smirkus is different in other ways too. In today's world of instant gratification, electronic everything, high tech special effects, huge expensive lighting displays and sound effects, and awesome pyrotechnics many people have forgotten the pure joy of the Big Top spectacle. In contrast and by design, Rob Mermin in partnership with his staff and troupers create a new Circus Smirkos show each year in pure, old-fashioned circus style. There is no hyping any individual act, no promoting exotic and unusual performers, and no animal acts. Instead, Circus Smirkus focuses on the exhilaration and excitement of the circus experience itself and its interaction with the audience. It is this quality that distinguishes a Circus Smirkus performance. This troupe/audience interaction is created by the continual high energy, sustained smiles, and spreading joy shared and exchanged between by the young performers and their audience. The connection is instantaneous, electrifying, long lasting, and contagious. Each performance ends with children (and some venturesome adults) in the audience joining the cast in the ring dancing with joy. As a result, many people return every year to see the growth and development of the performers and to revel in Smirkus spirit. This infectious spirit surges throughout the book making the reader want to attend a real Smirkus performance and share the experience firsthand. The management of Circus Smirkus is also different. All Smirkos must sign a two page "Trouper Contract" that he/she understands and "buys into" the responsibilities, commitment, and collaboration necessary to make both the show and personal spirit shine! Daily trouper led Councils are held to discuss issues. During the democratically run councils, the youngest Trouper
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