
DATE: Sunday, May 4, 1997                   TAG: 9705040055
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROY A. BAHLS, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:  104 lines

CIRCUS FLORA SHOWTIME!

As the sun set on the work-a-day world along the downtown waterfront Friday evening, a big-top tent - nestled beside the brick buildings - was coming alive.

Soon, it became a little jewel of a world where girls wear sequins, clowns hammer on your funny bone, and animals help to make magic.

After all - how often does a single-ring, European-style circus pitch its red-and-white-striped tent around here?

Most circuses nowadays reserve their spectacle for the giant arenas and offer up three rings of sensory overload.

Friday was opening night for St. Louis-based Circus Flora, one of the many Virginia Waterfront International Arts Festival events that have been popping up around Hampton Roads lately.

The circus will have its tent pitched at Friendship Park - near the Oriental-style pagoda beside Nauticus - through May 11.

Pat Phelan, 32, of Virginia Beach showed up with his 6-year-old son, Nicholas, to share their first big-top experience.

``I heard it was going to be like the old type of circus,'' Phelan said just before showtime.

And it was.

With seats no more than 40 feet from the action, this circus prides itself on being up-close and intimate. It also mixes its animal, high-wire and clown acts with a storytelling theater atmosphere and music from a five-piece band.

Minutes before showtime, animal trainer Sloan Danon, 43, limbered up the circus' star by walking her around behind the big top.

``She's relaxing and getting ready to work,'' Danon said of Flora, the 8,600-pound teen-age African elephant. ``She's a little spoiled, but she listens well. She's really just a big baby.''

Ivor David Balding, 55, the circus' co-founder, artistic director and producer, was also pacing out back, making sure all of the performers and animals were ready.

``Fifteen minutes!'' yelled Balding, and he blew a shrill whistle.

Out front, Elena Hortobagyi, wearing her makeup and sequined dress, was behind the popcorn machine helping with concession sales.

``I ride on the back of horses,'' said the 17-year-old, who has been performing since she was 2.

Was she nervous?

``I've done this so many times,'' she said. ``I don't get nervous anymore.''

At showtime, Balding walked to center ring. Although his microphone wasn't working, he belted out his welcome to the crowd of more than 1,000 as his performers paraded around him.

Soon Flora made her appearance and got the crowd clapping, while the clowns got them laughing.

Then came a dizzying display of acts, including Hortobagyi's flawless performance on horseback; The St. Louis Arches acrobats, who even did a flip over Flora; and The Flying Wallendas on the high wire.

Six-year-old Nicholas, who had previously experienced one of the three-ring affairs, had made up his mind by intermission about which type of circus he preferred.

``I like this one better,'' he said. ``When they have somebody playing in all three rings, I can't look at them all at the same time.''

The Flying Gaonas soon took to the trapeze, sometimes even touching the top of the tent as they sailed overhead. More clowns - then most of the company - joined in the juggling acts, complete with flaming clubs. The Double Cloud Swing act, like those before it, received thundering applause.

Then it was over.

``It was better than I had expected,'' said Pat Phelan. ``I liked the trapeze act the best. I was quite impressed with the whole circus.''

Balding, backstage, was happy about the opening-night performance.

``I think the audience loved it,'' he said. ``We all did a good job, and I think the enthusiasm was contagious.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photos

IAN MARTIN/The Virginian-Pilot

Aurelia Wallenda, 12, holds her friend Fauve Blaska, 2, while

visiting with David Gaona on Friday. All are performers in Circus

Flora.

``Ruvna'' (Merry Conway), left, and ``Yo-Yo'' (Cecil MacKinnon) wait

outside the tent during Friday's circus.

Graphic

IF YOU GO