"A wandering minstrel I,
A thing of shreds and patches,
Of ballads, songs, and snatches,
And dreamy lullaby!"
- —Libretto from The Emperor of Nippon, by Guillibert and Solomon[2a]
From acrobats to strongmen, from knife throwers to hypnotists, from dancers to ventriloquists, the Empire is full of Entertainers. Some do it for the roar of the crowd and others for the money. Many become Entertainers just to escape the hard life of the Imperial villager. Entertainers travel frequently, sometimes alone but more often in troupes that perform in villages, towns, and cities. Lucky troupes get continuous bookings, sometimes spending months in the same city. The less fortunate scrape by as they can, always looking for a more appreciative crowd (or a less suspicious watch) over the next hill. The very best Entertainers gain Noble sponsorship and earn undreamed of sums of money performing for the upper crust.[1a]
Notable Entertainers[]
- Cuppolalinni Family - A Tilean touring group of entertainers.