So I don’t know if this was ever a “thing” in the UK, but in the US, flea circuses were a tradition in carnivals. Somehow they taught fleas to perform tricks, like pulling little carts or kicking balls. Professor Heckler’s and The Alberti Flea Circus were the most popular in the US. This was part of the whole ballyhoo culture in the Southern US.

But the Onion Brothers took it to the next level, with their Cockroach Circus. They only did two performances of this show before they were closed down by right wing authorities who were threatened by their radical humour.

In their first performance, Karl, carrying a small box, approached from stage left, at the same time that Rob, carrying a large box, approached from stage right.

Karl: “You’re a cock!

Rob: “You’re a roach!”

Karl poured the contents of his box onto the stage….hundreds of cockroaches scurried across the stage, onto his feet and into the audience. Then Rob poured the contents of his larger box, shook it, showed it to the audience….. nothing, it was empty.

In their second and unfortunately last performance of this show, Rob, carrying a large box, approached from stage left, at the same time that Karl, carrying a small box, approached from stage right.

Rob: “You’re a roach!”

Karl: “You’re a cock!

Rob poured the contents of his larger box……nothing, it was empty. Then Karl poured the contents of his box onto the stage….it was empty too.

There are rumours floating about that they did a third performance, but I’ve not been able to track that one down.

-R