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The Tiny Top.
 You're
enjoying a quiet drink or meal with friends an the tabled areas
in the centre of the Garden Of Unearthly Delights when conversation
is interrupted by the insistently loud megaphone of a carnival
spruiker dressed in red 'days-gone-by' regalia. Suddenly the
entire lawn area becomes the hunting ground for some colourful
madly behaved characters as they mingle with their potential
patrons. They’re maniacal, and your attention has been drawn
- you’re curious but then you weigh up the five-dollar admission
cost to The Tiny Top Tent - and you either do or don’t take
the plunge.
For those who have already experienced any of these fifteen minute mini spectaculars on offer, they will testify that they really are a hoot and are a wonderful value for money distraction from the ordinary.
I corner co-proprietor KT Prescott, who for obvious reasons prefers to be known as The Princess of Popcorn, for a quick chat in-between shows to find out more.
"It's an old sideshow concept initially," she begins to tell of the history of the attraction, "where you'd have a small tent and just the one show that would run continually over and over but it was Tony [Rooke]'s idea to include a number of really good performers from all over Australia and abroad.
"We get all sorts of acts, like The Happy Sideshow guys doing their solo acts that they don't do anywhere else and that have been tailor made for the tent. We also have Birdman (an oddball character with a pet steam iron and strange drink serving techniques) and Azana Universe who's the half man and half woman; because we've got so many shows they're only a few and they're all sideshow acts. They're not circus, theatre, drama, dance or opera or ballet. They're none of those, they're sideshow."
It was Birdman who was playing at the time of this interview, with much laughter coming from within. "See, and that's what it's like outside the Tiny Top, you just can't stop. It's like a magnet for people and performers because of its atmosphere. It's all about the ambience, so we say what goes on the outside of the tent is just as important as the inside.
"It's a twin peak with two red flapping flaps on top with all new banners (painted by Prescott) and old bunting," she tells of the tent's design. "It holds about 36 people and it's got glowing lights in the popcorn machine. The popcorn is a big thing because that's where it all starts," she avers.
"It starts in the mouth and works its way to the eyeballs. It's a salty refreshment and because the popcorn's two dollars we say, 'Dinner and a show - seven dollars!' Then there's dessert on a stick (lollipops) for two-fiddy. If it ain't sideshow, we don't sell it!" she continues with an inherent ascension in her voice.
"The Tiny Top! For your entertainment pleasure, find out why we live like this. Non-stop natural acts!" She bellows in quick succession. Prescott then takes to her plastic ukulele and sings above the growing howls as Birdman performs his teapot finale, "The Tiny Top. Where the popcorn pop, pop, pops. Natural acts, non-stop at The Tiny Top!"
Yup, The Tiny Top - "It's small in proportion but large in attraction."
Steve Jones
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The Tiny Top seemingly never closes.
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