This is a lavishly
illustrated history and celebration of the
Pickle Family Circus, a cooperative circus that
has toured on the West Coast of the USA since
1976 and was founded by members of the San
Francisco Mime Troupe. With detailed quotations
from former and current circus people, the text
provides an unusual behind-the-scenes look at
life in a modern circus that has its roots in
the counterculture of the '60s. A clown re his
costume: "People expect big noses and white
paint and stuff, you can't completely get away
from that. But I try to show my eyes." One
former juggler on his motivation: "You do get to
live your ideals. . . . When I left the circus,
after a while I realized that I was no longer
surrounded by people living their ideals." An
acrobat: "There's no way to cheat in ballet.
That goes double for the trapeze. There's no way
to cheat up in the air." One member on the
rigors of circus travel: "After a few years with
the Pickles, I felt like I could do a gig
hanging from a tree in a hurricane." The many
photographs of the circus people at work and at
play are further evidence of their dedication
and enjoyment.
