THIS ‘ CIRCUS’ HAS ELEPHANTS ... IN PUPPET FORM

For this traveling troupe’s pachyderms, it really is survival of the fittest

Here’s a way to include elephants in the circus without upsetting animal rights groups: Have humans play them.

Circus 1903, a stage show made to feel like a classic big top circus show, has “elephants” as part of the cast.

Why the quotes? Because the giant pachyderms are puppets lifelike enough to make audiences gasp, laugh and forget that real elephants retired from the Ringling Bros. circus last year.

In the energetic show, a ringmaster in early 20th century garb introduces acts with aerialists, jugglers, acrobats, tightrope walkers and everyone’s favorite fourlegged circus attraction.

USA TODAY got an exclusive, close- up look at how elephants Queenie ( the mother) and Peanut ( the baby) come to life.

The giant, gorgeous creatures are seen learning tricks, messing with the ringmaster and interacting with children as part of the stage show that has just begun a U. S. tour.

Henry Maynard, one of the four puppeteers who manipulate Queenie’s trunk, says it’s all about breathing. ( Maynard performed as part of a horse in War Horse, which won five Tony Awards on Broadway.)

“Often, we’ll use breath to give each other cues of how we’re feeling,” Maynard says about working on stage with the barely- visible puppeteers including Chris Milford, who’s in a weight- bearing backpack and on stilts; Daniel Fanning, who also moves with a backpack and stilts to manipulate the hind legs and Nyron Levy, who’s on the ground, working Queenie’s head.

“We’ll use the breath to create emotion ( in the animal, and) to communicate with each other,” he says.

For instance, one of the puppeteers on stilts will bend his knees to make the animal look like she’s breathing. At the same time, he might actually take a sharp inhale, to wordlessly indicate to the rest of the team he’s about to step forward.

“You’re getting in sync with the rhythm of the animal,” says Maynard.

He also operates the trunk on baby Peanut. The rest of the elephant is performed by puppeteer Luke Chadwick- Jones, who’s “sort of doing a plank” the entire time he’s in costume.

“He’s got two legs, which he holds in his fists so they extend his front legs,” explains Maynard. “His feet are in the back feet of the elephant. He’s kind of hunched over on all fours, which is a little bit stressful.”

So, though no animals are harmed in the deployment of

Circus 1903’ s elephants, the show takes a toll on the human puppeteers.

“We tend to kind of put ourselves in strange positions, so it’s about keeping fit, keeping strong ( and) lots of stretching and yoga,” Maynard says.

“It’s a funny thing people say about puppetry: ‘ If it hurts you’re probably doing it right.’ ”

Circus 1903 continues in Denver through Sunday before beginning limited engagements in Boston, Detroit, Chicago, New York and more cities through July 2. Visit Circus1903. com for more information and tickets.

PHOTOS BY ROBERT HANASHIRO, USA TODAY Queenie is operated by three puppeteers, two of whom are on stilts. The elephants are a part of Circus 1903, which begins its U. S. tour in Los Angeles. At left, Peanut stands on hind legs at the command of the ringmaster.