Circus Wows Ladies, Gentlemen, and Kids of All Ages

The circus has come to town, and it’s a blast of good old-fashioned entertainment and fun. The Amazing Anastasini Circus bills itself as “the greatest little show on earth,” and that’s about right. This one-ring circus packs some talented performers, a century of tradition, fun hijinks, and amazing acrobatic escapades into a wholesome, family-friendly show that is decidedly analog, not digital, and guaranteed to get the younger generation’s faces out of their video screens.

They began their one-week run on Marco Island on Monday evening at Veterans’ Community Park to a near-sellout crowd and shows continue through Sunday. And not only is this a good time, it’s for a good cause – L.E.A.D., or Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence. This nationwide nonprofit organization, with a Southwest Florida office in Naples, has a mission to “stop drug abuse, deter drug-related crimes, stop violence and bullying, and promote law enforcement efforts,” according to their website, and L.E.A.D. executive director Nick DeMauro, who was on hand for the show on Monday evening.

DeMauro welcomed the patrons, but after that, it was all circus. Performers in sparkly costumes did amazing aerial tricks, balancing acts, and stunts such as juggling and hopping up stairs on a unicycle. Alec balanced and did handstands atop an improbably tall tower of chairs. Tink performed acrobatics in midair while suspended by her hair. Aaron juggled knives while balancing on a board over a cylinder and then swapped the cylinder for a basketball.

Ringmaster Giovanni Anastasini performed tricks of his own, using an apparatus called the diabolo. And comic relief was supplied by Lucho the Clown (Giovanni’s brother Luciano), who played pranks and played the fool, to the delight of the crowd. Lucho also brought kids from the audience up onto the stage and incorporated them into his act.

During intermission, patrons streamed outside and visited the concession stands, enjoying “circus food” such as kettle corn, tacos, pizza, shish kebabs, street corn, mini doughnuts, and more.

This was a show that could have been put on a hundred years ago, in small towns across America, reminiscent of scenes from “Huck Finn.” And the Anastasini family has been circus performers since 1877 in their native Italy.

“We’re eighth generation,” Giovanni said of him and his brother. “My kids, they’re ninth generation.”

The audience was enthralled by the performers and getting to see them up close and personal. There was not a bad seat in the house – or tent – and following the show, the performers came out front, greeting the children and posing for photos with them. Ringmaster Giovanni even showed them just how he performed one magic trick, amazing the kids all over again.