There are iconic images conjured within the mind once one thinks about the circus coming to town.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents LEGENDS, an all-new edition that unites iconic circus stars with living mythological creatures in a celebration of the legends that have captured imaginations for centuries.
One such circus star that comes to mind is the position of the big cat presenter, a brave soul who walks into a cage full of lions and tigers. Wild cats weighing up to 450 pounds, roaring and baring their teeth as a man less than half their size commands them to do tricks.
For Alexander Lacey, his role as the big cat presenter is not a display of taming or commanding dominance.
The 39-year-old out of Nottingham, England has been around big cats since the age of 4. He’s a second generation circus performer, following after her parents who both handle big cats. His father, Martin, started a zoo to pursuit a love for animals that developed while he was an India with his own father, who was a soldier in the Royal Army. Alexander’s mother, Susan, came from a working-class family in Nottingham, and grew up to travel the world as a presenter of white tigers.
Together, the Lacey family has raised more than 11 generations of lions and nine generations of tigers.
The exciting lifestyle is a passion for the younger Lacey, but talking about it at social gatherings becomes more of a chore.
“Actually, sometimes I try to avoid the question,” said Lacey, with a chuckle. “Half the time, people don’t believe me. So, I spend 30 minutes sharing my Facebook profile, showing pictures, trying to convince them. They must think I’ve had too many cocktails.”
His job, however, is not a chore.
“It’s a way of life,” he said. “You have to love it.”
A typical day for Lacey starts at 6:30 a.m., when he waters and prepares the cats for act practice. It’s his favorite aspect of the job, but one that demands commitment.
“First thing you have to do, no matter what arguments you have, what worries you have during the day, once you walk into the cage your mind has to be clear,” said Lacey. He likens the experience to driving a Ferrari at high speeds; both require clarity and astute observation.
He observes each cat and watches for their natural characteristics and then incorporates their behaviors into the act of the show. Lacey said big cats are like people, in that they each have their own personality. One cat may like to jump, another won’t. Another cat may be affectionate and likes to cuddle, while the next cat “will tear my arm off if I try to rub his belly,” said Lacey.
The moods of the each cat can be as fickle as your house cat, but the size and strength of a lion or tiger requires one to listen. Lacey knows each cat so well, that he can identify one from the other by listening to their roars.
Though the hierarchy that places Lacey above the cats in the ring is established in part to their dependency on him to provide food, water and care, it’s the respectful nature in which he treats them that defines the relationship between them all.
“They see me as a friend, a brother, a father,” said Lacey. “I’m established as the leader without coming to blows. Much like a teacher, you earn respect with the way you talk to them, with the way you treat them.” He mentioned how people voice concern over how circus animals are treated in captivity, but he says his cats are not treated with cruelty. “When you treat them well, they learn to respect you.”
The circus billed as “The Greatest Show on Earth,” has had a penchant for storytelling since it was first established nearly a century ago in 1919.
“Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is where legends live, and we constantly ask our audiences to believe in the unbelievable,” stated circus producer Nicole Feld through a press release. “For this edition we’ve combined a number of mythical themes and stories into a lavish production of sight and sound unlike any show we have ever created.”
Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson guides Paulo the Legend Seeker on his quest to discover real, living legends from around the world and presents Paulo’s fantastic discoveries to circus fans everywhere. Mythology meets reality as Paulo encounters the wondrous Pegasus and the amazing Unicorn; the Riders of the Wind Cossack horseback riders; and motorcycle daredevils, the Torres Family. They all come together along with a cast spanning 20 countries.
“A legend is something so magical and larger than life that once you see it, you never forget it,” stated Feld. “The talent in this show is unprecedented and embodies the name Legends. My sister and I were speechless when we saw these acts the first time. We searched the world for the best of the best and put them together in an unforgettable show.”
Free to all ticketholders, the All Access Pre-show allows circus fans to learn juggling and balancing skills, meet the performers of “The Greatest Show On Earth,” get autographs, take photos and enter to win a one-of-a-kind pachyderm painting.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will perform at the Times Union Center from Thursday, April 30 to Sunday, May 3.
