Ridgefield Playhouse Is Going To The Dogs

RIDGEFIELD — The circus is coming to Ridgefield. This time, though, it’s a comic canine circus.

Johnny Peers and The Muttville Comix will perform their one-of-a-kind circus acts at The Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies and the Performing Arts on Saturday, January 21, at 11 am and 2 pm.

Opening for The Muttville Comix – who is returning by popular demand – is the song and comedy stylings of Connecticut’s own Marcia Louis, better known as Beautiful Marcia.

Ridgefield Operation Animal Rescue (ROAR) will have a table in the lobby with educational material and to show their support of Johnny Peers, who has rescued all of the dogs in his act.

“All of these dogs would have been destroyed,” says Mr Peers, “it’s great for people to see that they were saved and went on to make a great contribution … making kids happy.”

Johnny Peers’ menagerie of mongrels has performed with Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus and with The Big Apple Circus. They jump rope, climb ladders and play with Johnny, he being their fall guy.

They are a mix to be sure: there is a basset, some greyhounds, a bunch of terrier mixes and a Chihuahua. They, including Johnny Peers, present flawless comic timing.

With an early introduction to the circus (Mr Peers’ father ran a concession stand at the Ringling Circus), Mr Peers joined the Ringling Clown College and graduated in 1970, fashioned a dog act and spent two years with the circus before going out on his own.

He got his first pup from the Humane Society in 1972 and has continued picking up dogs from shelters and pounds as well as from friends. Today he has 15 dogs in his act, each one taking anywhere from six months to a year before they are ready to perform. And when they do, they enchant. Each talented and charming canine has its own characteristics and expertise providing for a vast variety of acts and actions talented.

For tickets ($15 all seats) and further information about The Ridgefield Playhouse, call the box office at 203-438-5795 or visit RidgefieldPlayhouse.org.

The Playhouse is at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street.