Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

FORT SIMPSON (Aug 02/99) - Life on the road with the circus is just like being in a big family, say the performers.

The trials and tribulations of life on the road binds the group, which can't imagine any other life.

Veteran clown and acrobat Jeffery Blunkett said he left Dallas, Texas, as a young man to go on the road.

"I've been in the circus all my life," Blunkett said. "I'm an acrobat and a little bit of everything."

He says the circus has been good to him, taking him places most people only dream about.

"I've been to Japan five times, China, Europe, Central, South and North America -- I've been everywhere," he said, nearly breaking into song. "I've done a lot of travelling, yeah."

He finds the daily routine pretty easy, he says, and the job comes with very special rewards outside of the weekly pay cheque.

"It's a pretty easy life most of the time," he smiled. "You make a lot of kids laugh and that's the best thing."

He said the troupe was amused by the kids in the Deh Cho, who saw some strange sights for the first time.

"A lot of these kids haven't seen ponies or horses, the way they're acting, so I don't imagine they've ever seen a clown either," Blunkett said.

"That's what the circus is about -- coming into town and giving them something they've never seen before," he said. "That's an old tradition of ours and we're going to try and keep it going into the 21st century."

Sixteen-year-old Sophia Davenport works high above the ground on the Roman rings and trapeze. She calls Houston, Texas, home, but spends all her time away from school on the road with the troupe.

She's been in the circus as long as she can remember.

"I've been working since I was four, but I was born into it," she said.

She attends regular public school in Texas and travels with her extended family during the rest of the year.

"My mom works in the concession stand and my dad helps run things around here," she said."(I'm here) summers and every other break I can get from school," she said.

There are times, she says, that she just hates to leave the road.

"I didn't want to leave, when we were in Hawaii," she said. "My principal called and said, ŒIf you want to keep your credits, you better come back.'"

There are special times on the road, she adds, just like in any other kids' life when they have all kinds of fun. She recently celebrated her sweet 16 party in Alaska.

"My birthday was July 6, and we had like four shows that day," she said. "The clown pulled me into the ring and they made everyone sing Happy Birthday and we were packed that night.

"All I could think about was how I was going to kill my brother," she exaggerated a pout. "Then he came out carrying I don't know how many roses and I was like crying and stuff."

There is a closeness that exists between the performers that makes her feel more at home on the road than anywhere else.

"Everybody knows everybody. We've all been together since Hawaii last December," she said. "I just love it out here."

Ringmaster Ben Niwman agrees with Sophia. The life can't be beat and everyone depends on each other for support.

"It's just like we're a big family and we're on vacation," Niwman said.

"Like a big family, nobody says, ŒThat's my job, this is your job'," he continued. "If somebody needs a hand, you get in there and help him. You don't even think twice about it.

"After all, we only have each other -- nobody else."

The travel is a big part of why he's with the circus, Niwman said. They usually spend about months out on the road.

"We've been to all 50 states and all over Canada too," he said. "Alaska, Hawaii and the Northwest Territories...we'll be back in Florida in early November."

Although most of the acts perform some dangerous stunts, Niwman said they've always been lucky.

"We've had some close calls with the aerial acts, but they've always managed to grab on or hold on to something in the rigging," he said. "For some reason, or somehow, they've always managed to hold on to something.

"The only thing is, you never know when it's going to happen. It's a live performance and anything can happen," he said.

The hectic atmosphere can keep the performers and hands running, but that's all part of show business, he said.

"Sometimes we get there three hours before the show goes on and everybody's running," he said. "We have people already coming into the stands and we're still putting things together or the show is on and we're still building props for the second half."

While they've been lucky enough to avoid physical injury, the performers have not always been so lucky keeping their pants on, Niwman recalled.

"A couple of years back we had this clown who'd have his pants blown off during his act," he recalled. "He'd always be wearing these big undershorts underneath, but one night he forgot to put them on.

"So there he was standing in the centre ring with nothing on," he laughed. "We all thought it was hilarious, but people got quite upset, because there were a lot of kids in the audience."

Despite all the mishaps and mayhem the folks have never left disappointed, he said.

"Somehow, someway it all seems to work out," he laughed. "You never plan for these things, but they happen and you play it by ear. It all seems to come together."

"The show must go on," he smiled.