Fleas bring new kind of circus to D.C.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- The circus of politics in Washington was joined by a miniature variety allegedly involving two hardworking female fleas.

The Acme Miniature Circus run by clown college graduate "Professor" A.G. Gertsacov of New York attracted several people on Sunday for the show. Advertising said only those over 21 could enter the evening performace, as the fleas perform entirely naked, the Washington Post reported.

The show featured a race in which fleas named Midge and Madge pulled tiny chariots across a stage as big as a school desk.

Gertsacov also coaxed Madge through a solo tightrope-walking act while shining a flashlight on her. The finale went wrong in the afternoon however, when the fleas were to be shot out of a tiny cannon through a ring of fire. The fire wouldn't stay lit and the cannon wouldn't fire, so Gertsacov encouraged his audience to visualize the stunt instead.

Asked if there were really any fleas performing, the 42-year-old at first appeared shocked.

"It wouldn't be much of a flea circus without the fleas," he said.