Experience the circus is not for everyone. It takes a particular predisposition to sacrifice, being used to being away from home for a long time and you need to feel like your own a small multi-ethnic community with different traditions.
The Rinaldo Orfei Circus, for a few days in Cagliari , in via San Paolo, is all of this. With the addition of the DNA of two families in the sector, the Martinis and the Orfeis, who years ago made a pact that allows both to work around Italy without particular worries: «We set up the structures, they logistics», says Taylor Martini, who at 34 proudly defines himself as one of the youngest circus directors around. "It's not easy, nowadays, to manage such a varied community , with people often of different nationalities, who have to stay together even when moving from one city to another". All year round: "Except in June, when we go home for a month."
Italians, French, Germans, Venezuelans, Indians. Overall, 40 different professionals work in the circus, including acrobats, actors, directors, athletes, workers, animal handlers . We are a small traveling city.
The arrival of the circus, like every year, aroused the protest of animal rights activists. Martini turns up his nose: «Our animals, three elephants and parrots, are kept in excellent health, as certified by the State Forestry Corps, Asl and all the competent bodies in each city where we do the shows. Anyone who claims otherwise should come and stay with us for a month.'
To reinforce the concept come the words of Jacky Gartner, son of Joseph, descendant of a German circus family with French and Italian influences, who now works with the Rinaldo Orfei Circus. In the tent of the elephants, which he calls strictly by name, he recalls, hugging the trunk of one of them: «I was here, in this same spot, as soon as I was born », he recalls. "You can tell I grew up with these elephants."
Pachyderms and parrots are part of the great show which, until 15 January, will be staged by the Rinaldo Orfei circus. "They are certainly an attraction, but not the only one." There will also be motorcyclists and acrobats at the Wheel of Death, for a "traditional" offer which will culminate on New Year's Eve, with a New Year's Eve party and a special show.
