[2013058] A Circus Affair
Circosis @ Bakehouse Theatre – Main Stage
6:00pm, Mon 25 Feb 2013
I don’t always set myself challenging goals when scheduling my Fringe events; I’ll often try to string shows in the same vicinity together, which sometimes means that an event which may have been on the fringe of the Shortlist will get slotted in ahead of more fancied names, if the opportunity to create a nice run presents itself.
So it was with A Circus Affair – whilst it most certainly made the Shortlist on the basis of its ‘Guide entry, it probably wasn’t the most compelling pending circus event… and the Main Stage at the Bakehouse was a curious venue. But I could conjure a flurry of Bakehouse shows later in the evening… so why not, I thought?
But, as big-shoed clown Mr Kiko ambled into view – after a solitary red balloon had whimsically dawdled its way across the stage – I was starting to doubt my choice; it all felt a little bit slow, a little bit too twee. He then engaged in a little giant ball balancing, before the narrative of the show kicks the show into a higher gear: Mr Kiko wants to be on a stage, and upon meeting Sarita (another aspiring performer) at auditions, falls in love.
Their courtship ran parallel to their successful domination in the circus, and is punctuated by a series of circus tricks. From balances to hoops, juggling to old-fashioned clowning, it’s mostly well-performed – sure, there were a couple of mishaps during the hoop routine, and a few spills in the juggling… but at least they didn’t mess up when working with knives! And the theatrical elements are really well done, too; the birth of their children was quite cleverly done, taking into account both the adults and children in the audience.
But the show could, at times, feel like an odd mix, really: whilst the mute performers (a few squeals from Sarita aside) and the bright red/black costume and theming help foster a vaudevillian feel, there’s video intervals which mix in modernity. And the use of the video is a little perplexing: on the one hand, it’s an easy way to insert narrative into the performance; but on the other, it’s frequently used to show more circus tricks by the duo… and that comes off feeling a little self-congratulatory. And then there’s a segment that seems to be showing something that verges on sexual harassment… yet another awkward nod to the present.
But you know what? Those schizophrenic fractures don’t stop A Circus Affair from being a really enjoyable performance. It’s bold and colourful, quaint and inviting, but most of all it’s charming. It’s certainly nowhere near as spectacular as the Big Name Circus Acts (though I would contend that the lighting in this show was superior), but I don’t think it’s trying to be, really; just warm and wholesome fun.