I've actually seen a very similar gag done by a small Romanian circus
that used to come to my town quite often.

The "rows" of fur you see on the outside of the coat are actually
folded up pouches that are in the "up" position when you see the fur
coat. They are rigged w/ a string that opens them, top-down, when the
wearer pulls a release on the inside of the coat -- probably in one
of the cuffs. The ferrets are only stowed in the *bottom* row -- so
they're hopping out at a distance of no more than perhaps 12''--14"
from the coat to the floor -- a very safe & easy distance for them.

If you freeze the video at 0:54, you can actually see the pouches open
up & flop down. And later, as she walks, you can see the flaps moving
w/ her motion, & the fur layer under them is easy to see.

This is a pretty basic theatrical costuming trick, which is easy to
do, & simply depends on the element of surprise on the audience's part
when it happens.

Before we get into a debate about how animals are treated in circus
settings, let me say that most of these small European circuses are
generations-old family businesses, very small operations, & they treat
their animals *very* well, as they are part of their families. The
Romanian circus that used to come to my town used to invite the
audience to hang around after the performance, & you could talk to the
performers, pet the animals, ask how some of their tricks were done,
etc. The circus from Romania only had trailers for their horses -- the
dogs, cats, etc -- all the small animals -- lived in the trailers w/
their families, who were also their trainers. They were obviously well
loved & cared for. I believe this particular circus had 3 horses, if I
remember correctly, & the small numbers of other animals they used were
trained pets. (Notice how the ferrets in this video run *back* to their
trainer when they're released from the coat? As independent-thinking as
ferrets are, would they run back to an *abuser*? I wouldn't think so.
I'd think they'd scatter, were that the case.)

So please, I don't want to get into a debate as to how circus animals
are treated. I've never been to a large circus, so I don't know
anything about that. But my experience w/ this one small Romanian
circus pretty much assures me that there's no abuse going on w/ them.
And as for the coat trick -- now you know. Even when you know how it's
done, it's still cute!

Lin

[Posted in FML 7015]