Amazing Dancing Bear (Simon Smith and His...; Randy Newman)

NAME/ORIGIN
Character name	The Amazing Dancing Bear
Song/Album	"Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear"/ Sail Away
Act	Randy Newman
Writer	Randy Newman
Release Date	1972
ABILITIES
Powers	Dance as well as a human "The amazing dancing bear"
Skills	"making the grandest entrance"
Attributes	"outrageous, alarming" "courageous"
Vulnerabilities	Poverty-- starvation, homelessness, etc.
Formidability	Not superpowered, but still a hungry bear
Attractiveness	Very high: "Charming" with a "sincere smile"
Source	Training, desperation
Goals	Short term: survival Long term: to be "the big attraction everywhere"
POSSESSIONS
Weapons	N/A, aside from teeth and claws
Amulets	N/A
Objects	N/A
Clothing	N/A-- is a bear
Vehicles	N/A. Must have a truck b/c cannot take public transport with a bear
Dwelling	If there is a truck, that. If not, the street.
Milieu	"Seen at the nicest places"
BIOGRAPHY
Gender	Male (as is Simon Smith)
Age	Adult (Simon is a "boy")
Physique	Gaunt from lack of food (both)
Ethnicity	"Simon Smith" seems British-ish, but it could be a stage name
Origin	Unknown. the circus (speculative)
Ancestry	The bear is of Ursine derivation
Profession	Dancer and his promoter
Education	Trained in some sort of circus
SES	Very low. Needs "to borrow a coat to wear" Asks: "They'll feed us... don't they?" But: "Who needs money/ When you're funny?"
Relationships	"The well-fed faces all stop and stare"
Pets	The bear is less a pet than a partner
PERSONALITY
Morality	"It's just amazing how fair people can be."
Intro/extrovert	Very extroverted: "They'll love us, won't they?" "Making the grandest entrance"
Intelligence	High, for a bear. Simon is of average intellect
Emotions	Hope and ambition
Sanity	Sane, but perhaps "cockeyed optimists"
Enemies	N/A. Are "well-accepted everywhere"
Narrative Function	Protagonists
Other Notes	The Amazing Dancing Bear is a circus bear at the height of his powers. Unfortunately, he has little in the way of venues at which to display his prowess. The circus he trained with has possibly closed... or perhaps he was expelled when his trainer died. In any case, he is currently under the care of, and the sole source of income for, the preteen named Simon Smith (possibly his trainer's son or apprentice). They perform whenever, and wherever, they can. Rather than sticking to rural places where the laws are few but the pickings are as well, they have adopted a brazen new tactic. They read the society press, then show up at the nicest, most posh venues they can find and act as if they are supposed to be there, making the grandest entrance possible, and simply beginning to dance. Amazingly, this tends to work. Some hosts see the wisdom of "owning" the situation: "Yes, I did discover them! On my last trip! Aren't they delightful?!" Some hosts see the bad press of being harsh to an obviously poor child, and realize the sheer stupidity of trying to chase off a hungry bear. So most nights, the host gives them some cash or a bag of leftovers at the end of the evening. "Who would think a boy and bear would be well accepted, everywhere?! It's just amazing how fair people can be."