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Look, it's a Rhinoceros
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Richard West
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No rhinoceros has ever set foot in Belfast. The zoo has never had one
and has no plans to obtain one. I can find no record of a travelling
rhinoceros that has dropped by, say with a circus. The reason for
this peculiar absence is not clear. Unlike elephants or pandas,
rhinos do not have unusual appetites. They live in paddocks. One
might have assumed that someone could be prevailed upon not to renew
their donkey or mule for such a magnificent creature, but apparently
not. In general the theme with rhinos seems to be more pastoral than
exotic. Despite their size one could argue their demeaonour offers
much instructive and usuful guidance for our daily lives. Their
formidable appearance might be taken as a lesson in what is required
to maintain a pastoral outlook in a hostile environment. They display
that remarkable adaptation of being able to walk and defecate at the
same time. Such a beast could achieve that rare mix of being be both
edifying and popular.
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There is a play called Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco. It tells
the story of a M. Berenger who lives in a small, rural French town
and sees all his fellow citizens turn into rhinoceroses. The play was
inspired by the author's experience of the onset of fascism. It is an
absurdist allegory and has been very popular with theatre goers and
English speaking readers since it was first premiered in the Royal
Court Theatre in 1960 under the direction of Orson Wells, with
Laurence Olivier playing Berenger. Not however in Belfast, where, so
far as I can discover, only one act has ever been performed and that
by drama students at Queen's. What can explain this neglect? Is the
subject of a sudden rise of collective and irrational violence
irrelevant in this city? More than in any other city especially? The
Drama League of Ireland, that licenses the performance of these
plays, says there is a strong strain of conservatism in Belfast
theatre with a preference for gentle farces and English plays of the
1950s over European theatre of established pedigree.
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I wonder if this story is neglected because of the popularity
of other models for describing conflict. In particular there is the
'star-crossed lovers' story abstracted from Romeo and Juliet (or West
Side Story) or plays where people talk a lot and things go badly (it
is the amount of talk that is distinctive here). I would propose the
Rhinoceros could provide an alternative to these strategies and a
whole new strand of films and plays about Belfast. Within a few
minutes of the start of the film one could say 'this is going to be
one where they don't say much and everyone becomes absurdly violent
(sigh). Well at least it's not Romeo and Juliet'.
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As if to counter the ongoing and singular absence of
rhinoceroses from the culture, a poetry magazine started in 1989
calling itself Rhinoceros. It lasted for five issues, giving up the
ghost finally in 1992. This departure brings neatly to mind that
other quality of these animals, their rarity and proximity to
extinction. If we do not cherish them now they may not be there for
us when we want them, a point made rather well by the science library
at Queen's which believes it is still waiting to receive issue six
(file under large mammals?). We should take care of them while there
is still time.
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Some Belfast Rhino Marginalia:
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The town of Belfast at 2025 metres in the Eastern Transvaal is close
to the Kruger National Park
and therefore ideal country for seeing Rhino in the wild.
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