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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — With high-flying acrobats, dazzling costumes and large animals, Mohegan Sun Arena went “XTREME” on April 6 when the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus came to town for the first of seven shows during a farewell tour.
Feld Entertainment, which produces “The Greatest Show on Earth,” announced in January that it is closing up shop after 146 years. The “Circus XTREME” cast, which performed at the arena, will conclude touring on May 7 in Providence, R.I.; a second cast, “Out Of This World,” ends May 21 in Uniondale, N.Y.
Tyler, 5, and Dante Boyle, 2, of Moscow, had never been to a circus before April 6, and their father, Ed, said he didn’t remember the last time he’d seen the circus. But he “wanted to make sure they have the opportunity” to see the show.
Holding a toy laser gun, Tyler said was excited to see the animals.
“I like tigers,” he said.
As soon as the first female circus ringmaster, Kristen Wilson, took the floor and asked “What’s up, Wilkes-Barre?” Shannon Kelleher, 7, of Harrisburg, turned and said to her mother, Lillian, “This is awesome!”
The younger Kelleher sat at the edge of her seat as the song-and-dance set up the XTREME storyline — going to the ends of the earth (to exotic locales such as an arid desert and Mount Everest) for the newest circus sensation.
“As long as she has fun,” Lillian said of her daughter, discounting the drive from Harrisburg before the show began. “We’ve taken her every year, but this one is bittersweet.”
Sarah Halcott concurred.
The Springbrook Township mother brought her 6-year-old son, Andrew.
“I wish they didn’t give in to peer pressure and shut down,” Sarah said watching Andrew, who was enjoying a snow cone, his face painted as a lion. “I enjoyed it as a kid, and I wish he was able to have the same experience.”
Programs, snow cones, cotton candy and other novelties were being sold throughout the arena. Some vendors were pushing items as a “piece of history.”
“It is,” Halcott agreed. “I hope he remembers it.”
But the circus isn’t just for little ones. Crowds of all ages were wowed throughout the night as animals ranging from camels to poodles took to the stage to do highly choreographed skits.
Monica Abbott, 64, came with a group of friends, including John Bogart, 66, and Geraldine Sorokey, 86. It was Bogart’s idea.
“Every time they had the circus, I went,” Bogart said, adding it was a “shame” it was closing down. “I never missed the circus.”
Abbott said she was ready for the flying trapezes and lions.
“I feel good at the circus,” she said.
“It makes our day,” Sorokey added.
