Family portrait

Rachel Kramer and Daryll John own ten acres on a secluded Australian island. But they’ve chosen to leave the spot’s tranquillity behind and raise their daughter, Frances, in a very cozy studio apartment on Ludlow Street. It’s not a traditional living situation, but Rachel and Daryll aren’t traditional people; they’re both circus performers who have traveled the world swinging from trapezes, juggling balls and clowning with kids. They’ve taken a break from touring to give Frances a taste of the Big Apple—Rachel’s hometown—and a sense of permanence, albeit a temporary one.

Do you ever get alone time in this apartment?
RK Yeah, when Franky goes to school at the Educational Alliance. And Daryll put up those curtains off the kitchen. I don’t know why in all the years of living here I never did. So he and I huddle in the kitchen and watch a DVD on a tiny screen. She’s a dream sleeper.

What’s the biggest challenge of living in New York City?
DJ Scheduling.
RK It makes me rather sad that my kid is like, “Can we go to the playground, or is it the rats’ turn?” You know? It’s filthy here. I find that really challenging. And I feel like a certain huge percentage of the issues—like 50 percent of what goes on—is related to space. If she had a room to go into, we could send her to her room!

So why is it worth it to be in this town?
RK Well, my mom lives here and I grew up here. And even though Australia is an English-speaking nation, it’s not the idiom I’m fluent in. Plus there’s an access to Judaism that we have here. And it’s the Lower East Side. My grandpa went to Seward Park High School, and every time we walk to school, Franky goes, “I know, I know! Great-grandpa Jack went to school there!”
DJ We really wanted to give Frances a big experience with a city. Rachel’s had this apartment for a long time, and when she came to Australia we sublet it. We’ve always had it sitting here, and we got to that point where Franky was about one year old and we had the time and the money, and we were like, “Let’s go use it.”

Are you two performing while living in New York?
RK We’re both performing, but not as much as we were. I do some clown gigs. Daryll’s working in Brooklyn once in a while with this group—
DJ Team Spirit Animal Squad. It’s performance art—almost—but in a circus format, and there’s a live band. There are all kinds of weird acts; there’s a bit of aerial stuff, there’s strange puppetry and really beautiful projections. My character is the Naked Man. I’m like the only “human” in the show. It’s at Galapagos Art Space.

Why do you think clowns have a rep for scaring kids?
DJ Clowns have always been kind of edgy.
RK They’ve been in society since the beginning of time for a reason. And the reason is not to come to a seven-year-old’s party to make balloon animals, believe it or not. Another reason they’re scary is because a lot of practitioners who are wearing clown outfits are not clowns. It’s their side job. If being a clown is your most hated weekend job and you’d rather be doing something else, that absolutely seeps through. I’m certain that it’s physically painful. I think that’s why clowns get a bad rap.—Julia Israel

Their favorite...

NEIGHBORHOOD HANGOUT “We call the Tompkins Square exercise equipment (Ave A at 9th St, and Ave B at 7th St) the ‘big hang.’ Franky loves climbing, and we stretch and do handstands.”

DINNER RESTAURANT “The Noodle Bar (172 Orchard St at Stanton St, 212-228-9833) not only has great food but also shows Chinese action films. They’re great entertainment.”

BRUNCH SPOT “We love El Castillo de Jaguar (113 Rivington St at Essex St, 212-982-6412). It’s got a great family atmosphere, excellent omelettes and delicious pancakes.”

DESSERT DESTINATION “It has to be Economy Candy (108 Rivington St between Essex and Ludlow Sts, 800-352-4544). It’s a true wonderland of sweetness.”

PLAYGROUND “The one on First and 1st (First Park, First Ave at 1st St). It’s the closest to us and it’s our place to catch up with friends from the neighborhood.”

CIRCUS “Franky loved Birdhouse Factory at the New Victory Theater.” Daryll “would run away with 7 Fingers—the best contemporary company performing lyrical and funny work.” Rachel’s fave is Circus Amok—“the greatest ratbag activist circus in the world!”

CULTURAL ATTRACTION “We go to the First Saturdays at the New Museum (235 Bowery at Prince St, 212-219-1222). It’s an amazing art experience for kids, and it usually shows fantastic short films.”

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY “Storytime at the New York Public Library. The programs at the local branches are excellent. We see music and puppet shows, hear stories and even made a worm farm once!”

NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A DAY TRIP “One of our favorite days is to get on the bike, ride around the Upper West Side, visit Franky’s grandmother on 73rd Street, and go to Central Park. Then we climb the big rock. There’s a playground right next to it, but Franky will spend an hour on the rock and just a half hour at the playground.”

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• Sex in a city studio
• Family portrait
• Articles from this issue