Rob Mermin

I had the pleasure of being selected as an Early Reader of “Circle of Sawdust: A Circus Memoir of Mud, Myth, Mirth, Mayhem, and Magic.” A soon-to-be-published book from Circus Smirkus founder Rob Mermim. I highly recommend this book.

The book which covers more than 60 years of the author’s life, is equal parts biography and mid to late 20th century circus history. It is a fast-paced read through the author’s early life where he decides to leave home in the United States to become a circus performer in Europe. He ultimately returns to the States and is the founder of Circus Smirkus in Vermont. The first two-thirds of the book focus on the author’s adventures traveling throughout Europe as a performer (clown and mime) with Hoffman, Benneweis, and Kossmayer.

The author shares with the reader his thoughts, fears, triumphs, and losses. The book is a fast-paced read with drama, humor, and introspection, coupled with the challenges of learning to be a performer on the job, the sometimes difficulties of working with animals (his dog Rufus and Kansas the mule, to name a few) and the joys of succeeding when as a performer he finally connects with a live audience. He shares with the reader how skits are developed, often from real-life experiences, and how important timing is to the delivery.

The book concludes with an homage to the author's mime mentor, the great Marcel Marceau, and some of the author’s career highlights, his proud development of the famed Circus Smirkus, named by his mother, which is a place where kids can “follow their dreams…into the circus ring.” Still operating today, I encourage readers to go to their website to see some incredible videos of amazing kids spending their summers learning to be circus performers.

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