A True History of the Hula Hoop: A Novel
What a fun read! I wish all books by and about street performers were this informative
and entertaining. Judith Lanigan's new novel cleverly weaves her research on
the history of the hoop, with the stories of the first female street performers
from the 16th century, and her personal journey from circus performer and clown
to hula hoop diva on the endless summer festival trail.
If I had not already done some busking in Australia and Europe, books like Mandy
Sayer's 'Dreamtime Alice' might well have put me off, with tales of being robbed
and ripped off, sexually assaulted and pressured to work in sleazy strip joints.
Jim Rose's novel told his own tale of learning and perfecting sideshow arts,
then forming his troupe and touring the States and the world. His book finished
with a useful glossary of circus and sideshow terminology, and even some how-to
tips for aspiring performers.
Judith intersperses her narratives with pieces of information about the hoop
itself, from depictions on ancient Greek vases, to historic show posters, archival
film footage, photographs, programs and journal or newspaper articles. And she
correctly perceives that much, if not most circus history lives on in the memories
of the performers themselves, many of whom go on to teach and direct in their
later years. Ms Lanigan has tapped this rich source of personal oral histories
of people from all over the world, to trace the use of hoops from Greece to Russia,
China to Australia, and then to America, where it was "discovered".
Judith's historical narrative follows a 16th century Commedia del Arte troupe
across northern Italy to France. After the Dark Ages' intolerance to any entertainment
but religion, these bands of clowns, jugglers and acrobats brought the performing
arts back to Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire crumbled. Lanigan's
Columbina and Isabella represent the first women working as performers in modern
times, and demonstrates the persecution such women often were subjected to. These
two characters were adored in the 'modern' cities, but often had to travel dressed
as men, and perform in the 'drag queen' tradition which had gone before.
Judith's personal narrative from Fremantle hatmaker, to performer working with
a circus then a duo, is fascinating, earthy and real. Through misadventures in
love, she fearlessly tackles the festival circuit in Europe, learning to narrate
her act in many languages, then further hones her skills at the Moscow Circus
school. Her story shows the highlights and lowlights of frequent international
travel, the intense work which a European summer entails, and the relative scarcity
of work in Australia for the rest of the year. Potential street and circus performers
can learn a lot form reading this book.
It is a joy to follow Lanigan's protagonist as she creates her 'Dying Swan' act,
displaying her skills, acting out the great tragedy, and commenting on her own
performance to let the audience know the correct response, sighs or applause.
Lanigan's skills as a writer for performance directly translate to her writing
of fiction. This book has many sites of pleasure, has pace and pathos, the bad
times are not excluded. But it is the glorious success in the limelight which
the reader will carry with them, long after the last page is finished. I wish
Judith Lanigan all the best in her future performing and writing endeavours.
A True History of the Hula Hoop' by Judith Lanigan
Mandarella Book Blob Mandy Curties Aug 2009
Category: Writing and Poetry
| Press
reviews for A True History of the Hula Hoop: A Novel “...The result is an expansive and exuberant novel mixing fiction, history and elements of Lanigan's life in the streets and theatres of Europe and Britain.” Lenny Ann Low - The Sydney Morning Herald Sept 2009 “... A good first novel... in the depictions of the tribulations and the pleasures of working as a street performer this is perhaps an autobiographical account of a street clown's life... It will be interesting to see this writers next book” Sue Parson - ArtsHub “ A sophisticated polished first novel” John McDonald Arts Reviewer (The Australian) and Author of The History of Australian Art “A novel that I could not put down... an intertwining journey of two uniquely inspiring women that had me enthralled from the first page. A must read...” Monthly Book Review- Byron Shire News “She knows her
workplace and it's colourful history well, yet imparts
her knowledge with a light deft touch... When Lanigan
departs from historical fact she has a rare gift of
being fully convincing. An intriguing vivid novel.” “I thoroughly enjoyed
this novel with it's somewhat quirky story matter and
eagerly await the writer's next work.” “Lanigan's skills
as a writer for performance directly translate to her
writing of fiction. This book has many sites of pleasure,
has pace and pathos, the bad times are not excluded.
But it is the glorious success in the limelight which
the reader will carry with them, long after the last
page is finished.” “If Only Anna Pavlova
Had Lived To See The Hula Hoop, Australian Judith Lanigan,
a street and international freelance circus artist,
is best known for her interpretation of the ballet
piece The Dying Swan [originally choreographed for
Pavlova], which she performs with 30 hula hoops.” |
Pictures and Video are contained on this site are
not to be used without the permission of the artist Copyright Judith
Lanigan 2009
Judith Lanigan has been supported by Austrade, Australian Society of Authors,
the Australia Council for the Arts, Newcastle Livesites.
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