Over here, traditional circuses mostly adapted to the fact that people are increasingly against cruelty to animals and avoid animal acts that are clearly cruelly taught. I think the problem is that traditional circus is no longer so popular as a form of entertainment (and it has also become quite expensive).

Okay...you're right Frances. Circuses aren't as popular as they used to be, I was trying to provide an alternative view but I think it's safe to say I've been owned in this one! *sigh* Oh well, I still love circuses.

I love circuses, too. You know what adds to my sadness when I learn of a circus closing down? The thought that when one circus disappears, it is the work and passion of generations that go with it. Over here, circuses are often family businesses where people grow up together, work and perform together for many years, and teach their arts and crafts to their children before retiring so that a younger generation can take up from them.

Growing up I was crazy for circuses, and that´s why I think is a shame how this incredible art is dissapearing. Fortunately my family and I still respect and love circus and try to keep as a tradition going to the circus everytime we can

I find it really interesting actually, I read a book recently that had a wire-walker character who had auditioned for his first circus and got in. He isn't exactly the best with words so when the circus he is with has their weekly meeting where they basically just get everything bad out in the open, he never says anything which gets everyone else a little pissed and they feel like he is flying under the radar. The character is years younger than the rest, he is only 19, and has a night with one of the acrobats who is full obsessed with him and it messes things up further because she expected him to fall in love with her...which he didn't. This results in him getting pressured into saying he will do the bottling speeches, the speech at the end of the circus intended to will the audience into donating some money to them so they can continue travelling on; sometimes considered the most important part for the performers in a travelling circus. Because the character cannot really express himself well, he completely messes them up resulting in him getting kicked out and not nicely either. The character's name is Ruben, or Rube for short and I just found that an extremely common circus cry for when a circus performer is involved in a fight or whatever, is 'Hey, Rube!'. It's a rallying cry and means trouble is on the way, and to get together to fight. I find it so interesting that this character, who is apparently such a problem for the circus, is called Rube, now I'm wondering if it was intentional or in the author just liked the name...

You are right, It is very interesting!

I was going through some of my old paperbacks the other day, and came across a copy of "Good-bye, Mr. Chips!". Think "The Lad" would do pretty well in that role, don't you. (Besides, he'd look awfully cute in some scholarly glasses,too!) ------------------------------ Also,was thinking about a re-make of "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir", as well....... OR, "Nanny & the Professor", perhaps?

I admit I had to search for "Goodbye, Mr. Chips!" (BTW, I discovered that the book has been made into two films in 1939 and 1969, a TV mini-series in 1984 and a TV movie in 2002), "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" and "Nanny & the Professor" to learn what they are about. However, Ioan would do well in them, I think.

I agree, Matie! Ioan would do Mr. Chips very well, either as it stands , or an updated version, maybe. I've been having another thought lately about a historical figure; indulge me... I have recently finished reading a book by Edwin Danson called 'Drawing the Line' about the Mason Dixon Line. I first got interested in the subject through a song by one of my favourite singers Mark Knopfler (of Dire Straits fame) who is a Geordie and had written the song 'Sailing to Philadelphia' about the two 'architects' of the line starting out. Even before I read the book(and there are many others, of course) I could picture the song set as a drama in my head and thought Ioan would make a fine Dixon. the music is half the song, of course and in this case, Knopflers guitar is very haunting/stirring,(you can really fel the ship riding the waves!) but here are the lyrics... I am Jeremiah Dixon I am a Geordie Boy A glass of wine with you, Sir And the ladies I'll enjoy All Durham and Northumberland Is measured up by my own hand It was my fate from birth To make my mark upon the Earth... He calls me Charlie Mason A stargazer am I It seems that I was born To chart the evening sky They'd cut me out for baking bread But I had other dreams instead This baker's boy From the West Country Would join the Royal Society... We are sailing to Philadelphia A world away from the coaly Tyne Sailing to Philadelphia To draw the Line The Mason-Dixon Line Now you're a good surveyor, Dixon But I swear you'll make me mad The West will kill us both You gullible Geordie lad You talk of Liberty How can America be free? A Geordie and a baker's boy In the forests of the Iroquois... Now hold your head up, Mason See America lies there The morning tide has raised The Capes Of Delaware Come up and feel the sun A new morning is begun Another day will make it clear Why your stars should guide us here... We are sailing yo Philadelphia..........

Great suggestions, Matey. I think Ioan would be perfect for any of those roles. I love Mr. Chips and the Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Nanny and The Professor was alright, but I'd prefer the other two. Stevie - In the States, we always associate the Mason-Dixon line with Free vs. Slave states. I went and took a quick look at the original history and found it intriguing. I had ancestors living in Pennsylvania around that time and the country was quite rugged with a lot of hostilities between the Natives and Immigrants. Must say it is good fodder for a movie that has not been done yet. Now I'm curious. Is that a recent book or one from a while ago?

GG, the book by Edwin Danson is subtitled 'How Mason and Dixon surveyed the most famous border in America', and was published in 2001. I think there are many books on the subject though - this one just took my fancy. It is an American publication passed on by my Dad (who inhabits a fascinating world of second-hand bookshops and lives surrounded by piles of them; I wish I could bottle his mind!) You can read the front flap on Amazon.com's online reader.... http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0471385026/ref=sib_fs_top/105-9729298-7665225?ie=UTF8&p=S00F&checkSum=Y5BaK25XkUJ%2B5RL4GE9DUHYf3cS5qlcNUHkfonnlmoc%3D#reader-link and you'll see why I think it would make a good movie. Wish I had you're talent for scriptwriting, GG!

Now I'm curious, too. I guess I'll dig my Dire Straits CD from my collection and look for the book by Edwin Danson to read.

That looks like a very interesting story. I have about three books I have to finish and then maybe I'll take a look. So, many good ideas out there. This is slightly off topic, but an ancestoral family of ours lived in Pennsylvania in 1757 and were massacred or captured by the Delaware Indians. So it was a very dangerous place at the time. Well, I tried to list a website, but I guess searching for Hostetler Massacre.

I've just finished reading "The Secret River", a novel by Kate Grenville, and I think it could make a good film. It is the story of a boatman in pre-Victorian London, who is exiled to New South Wales, Australia, after he was caught stealing.

That's a chapter of history we don't learn about very much here. The book The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes is about that topic, but more a mix of many stories than one specific story. I think I'd find a more in-depth story of an individual more interesting. It does sound like it would be agreat role for Ioan.