Create an Edward Gorey-style illustration depicting an energetic ringmaster in a striped circus tent surrounded by an audience. Use meticulous cross-hatching to create shadows and textures, focusing on the intricate details of the ringmaster's elaborate uniform and the expressions of the audience. The ringmaster should be rendered with exaggerated features, including a wide smile that has a slightly unsettling quality. The audience's faces should have a vacant or ambiguous expression, giving them an air of detachment despite the festive setting. The circus tent should be suggested with minimal lines, using the striped pattern to add depth without overwhelming the scene. Include subtle symbolic elements, such as small birds perched on the tent's edges or a clock with shifting hands, to evoke a sense of hidden meaning and heighten the atmosphere of mystery and unease.