Fiona Gordon: The Great Moscow Circus had audiences breathless at Cape Town’s Grand Arena.
Gone are the old days of sawdust and strange smells – a trip to the circus nowadays seems rather to feature people in crazy balancing acts, and flying, (or making things fly) through the air. And with the strong performance traditions that emanate from the Russian Federation, it is no surprise that the series of acts featured is of the highest calibre.
There are various forms of throwing and juggling – from buckets to hats to maces, and even people – with other people’s feet, off the back of moving motorbikes… A man uses a narrow bar as a trampoline with choreographed sidekicks in support; and repeated appearances by a bevy of Russian beauties in long boots and shorts short enough to make anyone uncomfortable.
The traditional ring remains, but the indoor arena accommodates a complicated set of rigging, which allows for some fantastic aerial displays. The expression “look ma – no hands!” takes on a new perspective when one is balancing upside down on one’s head on a flying trapeze bar, but these gymnasts make it look like child’s play.
Of course, no circus would be complete without the clowns, who go fishing in the crowd with bobbing balloons creating circular Mexican waves, and put together a wonderfully funny little skit using obliging members of the audience.
My favourite acts include a beautifully musical ‘love’ duet, featuring a juggling couple, who do so on and off a single bicycle wheel; and five male gymnasts in a precisely-choreographed sequence using the horizontal bars and a trampoline.
Highlights include the contortionist who manoeuvres her body into all sorts of fantastically impossible positions, a daring multiple trapeze act, and a series of phenomenal feats completed by a troupe of springboard acrobats, which culminates in a man wearing a single stilt doing a triple somersault, from the ground, onto a chair 15 m above the ground – supported by two levels of balancing men.
With many award-winning acts as part of the programme, every effort has been made to ensure that members of the audience are kept on the edge of their seats, A couple of wobbles and drops were well handled by the performers, and although I found the musical direction a little frustrating, for the most part the performance lived up to the hype.
The Great Moscow Circus was brought to South Africa by Sun International, and had performances at Carnival City and the Grand West Arena in April 2010.
Fiona Gordon
fiona@artslink.co.za
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