Arts & Entertainment
Guppo the Clown: Still Going Strong With Wenatchee Youth Circus
Guppo, otherwise known as Paul Pugh, formed his circus almost 60 years ago. The traveling group of youngsters is performing three shows in Edmonds. Final two shows are Wednesday.
There’s a word that describes those who are afraid of clowns: Coulrophobia.
Hopefully there won’t find many coulrophobiacs today and tomorrow at the Edmonds Civic Center Playfield, where Guppo the clown is likely to be the kindest one you’ll ever meet.
Guppo is Paul Pugh, who founded the Wenatchee Youth Circus in 1952, a traveling troupe of kids ages 5 to 19 who as part of their summer tour of Washington.
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On Tuesday morning, Pugh directed kids and circus workers from his wheelchair. He’s a bit hobbled these days, which is understandable after almost 60 years in the circus. But Pugh, whose handlers and makeup artists transform into Guppo before each show, is still able to get out of his chair and spread the circus’ joy with a face that was born to be a clown.
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Pugh started his unique circus in Wenatchee as an afterschool tumbling team. “It developed and grew like topsy,” said Pugh, who was a junior high school principal. “I get help now from several young assistants who grew up in the circus. ‘Circus’ means ‘circle,’ which is never-ending.”
Pugh’s circus doesn’t have a flashy light show. No near-naked girls. “We are a family friendly, old-fashioned circus,” he said. “We don’t tell a story.”
The latter comment was an indirect jab at Cirque du Soleil, which Pugh admires but feels initially strayed too far from the circus concept. “They confused a lot of circus people,” he said. “But I think they’re getting it together now with what they’re doing and audiences like it. Still, it’s not really a family friendly show. Their prices are too high.”
The Wenatchee Youth Circus travels with a flatbed trailer that hauls five small circus wagons. One wagon converts into a raised covered bandstand, and the others haul equipment.
The show includes flying trapeze, high-wire, double trapeze, swinging ladders, single trapeze, low-wire, Spanish webs, trampoline, tumbling and of course, clown acts.
Parents of the performers design and create the costumes. Parents also serve on a board to help manage the circus and travel with the circus as chaperones.
The Wenatchee Youth Circus performs today at 7 p.m. and Wednesday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m, and is sponsored by the Edmonds Exchange Club and Edmonds Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services. Tickets are $6 for adults 17 and older, $4 for those 2-16. The family rate, for two adults and up to four children, is $19. A group rate for 10 or more is $3 per ticket.