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Jul. 17th, 2011 12:31 amCarlotta had expected there wouldn't be much response to her advert. After all, when the circuses disbanded at the start of the war, most people went off to other responsibilities.
She was therefore surprised when an infuriated Fern stormed up to her at breakfast.
"I say, are all these awful common people on the driveway here to see you?"
"Probably." Carlotta says, making a face at Fern, grabbing her crutches and going to see. She grins when she sees a couple of caravans here already, though she'd only expected letters or telephone calls.
She pulls on her new Ringmaster coat, puts on an old top hat of Will's, and hobbles out the front. People begin to emerge from the three caravans on the driveway, others seem to have come on foot. They peer at her curiously, then begin to murmur to one another.
Carlotta gives a loud whistle.
"Thank you all for coming, if you could all come and gather around the bench we can sort things out."
She goes to the bench and sits down, taking the weight off the foot in the cast and eying the crew. She can tell, at a glance, that most of this lot wouldn't get employed in a circus in peace time. The three young women are obviously pregnant (after a moment, she realises they probably all conceived the night before their husbands went to war). Some of the rest are unaccompanied children. The remainder are people too old to go to war. A variety of animals are milling around.
When everyone is gathered, she holds up a hand for silence.
"My name is Carlotta Frances, and I intend to put together a show."
"But you're a woman." One of the old men says, clearly perplexed by this.
"Yes." Carlotta says. "I shall of course be forming a council, but I intend to run it as Ringmaster. Anyone who has a problem with that, please feel free to leave now." she says, holding her chin up.
It's a gamble. There are two or three old men here who could contest her right to lead. A few people leave, but the rest stay, perhaps curious.
"All right." she grins, then explains her idea for how the show might operate, doing an early evening show so as not to conflict with blackout regulations, and to leave people free to help with the war effort in the night. The crowd nod and listen.
"And I will be able to do an act as acrobat once my leg is fully healed, but in the meantime I'll be performing Ringmaster duties only. We won't be rich, but we might be able to raise morale, and I feel we ought to do our bit for Britain in that way.
So if you're still interested, please form a queue, and we'll have mini auditions."
Libby comes out, bringing them all some tea or ginger beer, and some paper and a pen for Carlotta. Then the two young women begin the auditions.
The first of the pregnant women approaches. A beautiful parrot sits on her shoulder.
"I'm Dolly, this is Polly." she says.
"I'm Polly, this is Dolly." The parrot says, getting a few laughs.
The couple perform a short demonstration of their act. Polly is clearly a very clever bird, and Carlotta can see the potential of the act.
"What are you planning to do when the baby comes?" she asks, when they're done.
"Well..." Dolly hesitates, then gestures to the other two pregnant women. "We were rather hoping to travel as a three. So that we might team up for childcare. I mean, we were all born in the circus, and we've been living in the caravans together until now." She sighs. "When our circus disbanded, we had nowhere else to go."
Carlotta nods, understanding, and gets the other two pregnant women to audition next. The second, Daisy, is an incredible contortionist (despite her bump). The third, Victoria, confesses to being a tightrope walker currently unable to perform; but her plea to come along for free is so appealing that Carlotta puts them all down on her list.
Next up come a pair of twin boys, orphans aged about ten, who inform Carlotta that they were former wards of Britomart's Circus, but have been living rough for the last six months. They perform acrobatics in perfect symmetry in their clown costumes, and she adds them in.
An old man called Humphrey comes up with his elderly wife, and together they perform conjuring tricks. A girl of about fourteen, Rita, a runaway evacuee, demonstrates her work with her parents' trained monkey. Finally a widow, Ethel, with three tiny poodles shows them performing tricks.
Carlotta and Libby discuss the auditions in private for a few minutes. Then Carlotta gathers everyone together again.
"As far as I'm concerned, you're all in." she says. "And I'd like to ask Humphrey, Ethel and Victoria to be on the council. I propose we meet back here in one month to get started. Make arrangements with any family or commitments you have in that time. Twins, Rita, I'll help you arrange guardians." She turns to the three pregnant women. "Dolly, Daisy and Victoria, I will adjust the other acts to fit around your maternity needs, so please keep me informed of what you need."
The three women nod eagerly, having expected to be turned away. When Libby tells them that they're welcome to park their caravans on the stable grounds, they're even more pleased.
She was therefore surprised when an infuriated Fern stormed up to her at breakfast.
"I say, are all these awful common people on the driveway here to see you?"
"Probably." Carlotta says, making a face at Fern, grabbing her crutches and going to see. She grins when she sees a couple of caravans here already, though she'd only expected letters or telephone calls.
She pulls on her new Ringmaster coat, puts on an old top hat of Will's, and hobbles out the front. People begin to emerge from the three caravans on the driveway, others seem to have come on foot. They peer at her curiously, then begin to murmur to one another.
Carlotta gives a loud whistle.
"Thank you all for coming, if you could all come and gather around the bench we can sort things out."
She goes to the bench and sits down, taking the weight off the foot in the cast and eying the crew. She can tell, at a glance, that most of this lot wouldn't get employed in a circus in peace time. The three young women are obviously pregnant (after a moment, she realises they probably all conceived the night before their husbands went to war). Some of the rest are unaccompanied children. The remainder are people too old to go to war. A variety of animals are milling around.
When everyone is gathered, she holds up a hand for silence.
"My name is Carlotta Frances, and I intend to put together a show."
"But you're a woman." One of the old men says, clearly perplexed by this.
"Yes." Carlotta says. "I shall of course be forming a council, but I intend to run it as Ringmaster. Anyone who has a problem with that, please feel free to leave now." she says, holding her chin up.
It's a gamble. There are two or three old men here who could contest her right to lead. A few people leave, but the rest stay, perhaps curious.
"All right." she grins, then explains her idea for how the show might operate, doing an early evening show so as not to conflict with blackout regulations, and to leave people free to help with the war effort in the night. The crowd nod and listen.
"And I will be able to do an act as acrobat once my leg is fully healed, but in the meantime I'll be performing Ringmaster duties only. We won't be rich, but we might be able to raise morale, and I feel we ought to do our bit for Britain in that way.
So if you're still interested, please form a queue, and we'll have mini auditions."
Libby comes out, bringing them all some tea or ginger beer, and some paper and a pen for Carlotta. Then the two young women begin the auditions.
The first of the pregnant women approaches. A beautiful parrot sits on her shoulder.
"I'm Dolly, this is Polly." she says.
"I'm Polly, this is Dolly." The parrot says, getting a few laughs.
The couple perform a short demonstration of their act. Polly is clearly a very clever bird, and Carlotta can see the potential of the act.
"What are you planning to do when the baby comes?" she asks, when they're done.
"Well..." Dolly hesitates, then gestures to the other two pregnant women. "We were rather hoping to travel as a three. So that we might team up for childcare. I mean, we were all born in the circus, and we've been living in the caravans together until now." She sighs. "When our circus disbanded, we had nowhere else to go."
Carlotta nods, understanding, and gets the other two pregnant women to audition next. The second, Daisy, is an incredible contortionist (despite her bump). The third, Victoria, confesses to being a tightrope walker currently unable to perform; but her plea to come along for free is so appealing that Carlotta puts them all down on her list.
Next up come a pair of twin boys, orphans aged about ten, who inform Carlotta that they were former wards of Britomart's Circus, but have been living rough for the last six months. They perform acrobatics in perfect symmetry in their clown costumes, and she adds them in.
An old man called Humphrey comes up with his elderly wife, and together they perform conjuring tricks. A girl of about fourteen, Rita, a runaway evacuee, demonstrates her work with her parents' trained monkey. Finally a widow, Ethel, with three tiny poodles shows them performing tricks.
Carlotta and Libby discuss the auditions in private for a few minutes. Then Carlotta gathers everyone together again.
"As far as I'm concerned, you're all in." she says. "And I'd like to ask Humphrey, Ethel and Victoria to be on the council. I propose we meet back here in one month to get started. Make arrangements with any family or commitments you have in that time. Twins, Rita, I'll help you arrange guardians." She turns to the three pregnant women. "Dolly, Daisy and Victoria, I will adjust the other acts to fit around your maternity needs, so please keep me informed of what you need."
The three women nod eagerly, having expected to be turned away. When Libby tells them that they're welcome to park their caravans on the stable grounds, they're even more pleased.
