Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 2, 1992 TAG: 9202020165
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLYNE H. McWILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
FOR RINGMASTER,THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Senor Rai wasn't feeling well when he woke up Saturday morning. But he couldn't call in sick to work.For Rai (pronounced Ray), work is with the Royal Hanneford Circus. So fighting a sore throat, he did his act as the glitzy ringmaster in performances at the Roanoke Civic Center.
"When you see all these thousands of kids you've got to go on," he said after the 10 a.m. show, the first of three performances Saturday.
He did. Rai introduced the acts of the 2 1/2-hour show without missing one of three wardrobe changes.
The children aren't the only motivation Rai had. The true performer in him took hold when he felt like staying in bed.
Rai's real name is Raymond Orszak, "thoroughly Polish." He changed it when he started in show business as a magician 35 years ago. "Orszak didn't look good on the marquee."
Besides, he liked the cape and hat he got to wear while doing the act.
His costume as ringmaster closely resembles the lavish attire of Liberace.
"The more outrageous I become, the more famous I become," he said smiling through the stage makeup that lasted and lasted under the heat of the lights.
Taste in clothing isn't the only thing Rai shared with the flamboyant pianist. Rai does a magic/comedy act in Las Vegas' nightclubs when he's not traveling with the circus every spring and fall.
Rai's partner in the act is Michael Wright, a native of Salem who also is the lighting director and clown for the circus. Wright has worked with Rai since 1986 but joined the circus in 1977. In their act - Senor Rai and Tillie - Wright portrays a prim and proper British maid who does everything to unruffle Rai, including displacing his wig. The two will take their show to Belgium in July and return to the circus in October.
Wright owns some land near Hanging Rock. He and Rai plan to build a house there this fall and call the Roanoke Valley home. They will continue to travel with the circus.
Circus life is demanding. This year the Royal Hanneford will stop in about 75 cities in 49 weeks.
"It's glamourous and it's a lot of fun but it's an awful lot of hard work," Rai said watching members clean up between acts.
There's more to the business than work, there are bonds among the performers that makes them a family, he said.
"Of course we fight like any family does but when one of us needs, everyone's there for them," he said.
The close knit between performers is something the audience doesn't see and is misconstrued by the media many times, he said.
Rai also explained that performers don't party as much as people think.
"I usually go home and get in the bed after a show," he said.
Retirement is not in Rai's vocabulary. He said he doesn't know when he'll hang up his sequined suits what he'll do after he can't stand for two hours. "This is the only thing I know," he said.
Rai encourages people to run off with the circus, if that's what they want out of life.
"Why not? Life is short; try it," he said.