ELEPHANTS AND ACROBATS STARS OF BIG TOP CIRCUS

A giraffe, a llama, a camel, some elephants and other animals got soaked while they waited their turn to perform Saturday afternoon, but visitors stayed warm and dry under the big top at the King Royal Brothers Circus.

The five-ring circus performance was sponsored by the Cape Girardeau chapter of the NAACP.

Just before the downpour, the Montes De Oca family from Argentina prepared for their hand-balancing and perch pole act.

"All we have known is the circus," Anna, 18 and the family's spokeswoman, said. "For four generations our family has performed."

Anna said her family has been with the King Royal circus for two years and they are enjoying the work. She performs with her brother Damion, mother Alexandra, and father Mario.

"We get to know people in other countries; you get to have a lot of friends," she said.

A boxing kangaroo named Rocky performed with another family act from Argentina.

As she fed Rocky dried bananas for supper, Sandra Martinez said she, her husband Javier, and sons Matias, 12, and Alex, 10, perform together.

"Our family has a history in the circus for five generations," she said.

The Martinez family has been performing with the King Royal Brothers for one year. For two years Javier Martinez has boxed with Rocky in a comedy act. He said the act is not aggressive toward Rocky. "The animal rights people check to see if we are treating him right," he said.

Javier said the family has one other pet. "We have a dog who travels with us but he doesn't perform; all he does is eat."

Sandra Martinez, a former aerialist, said her family is versatile. Her sons also perform in a trampoline act.

Among those attending the afternoon performance was Martha McMullen, of Cape Girardeau, who said she had never been to a circus before. "I'm a grandma and I think it is great!" she said. "I brought my grandkids and I am having a wonderful time."

Other highlights of the two-performance circus were Princess Tanzania, a performing baby hippopotamus, Winkum and Blinkum, two pygmy midget zebras, Captain Whitey and his trained wild jungle beasts, a performing giraffe and parrots.

The midway into the circus tent had pony rides and traditional circus food.

The King Royal Circus will perform in Chaffee today for two performances sponsored by the Chaffee Chamber of Commerce.