CIRCUS!
A whimsical journey of a juggler left behind when the circus moved on without him. But with a few friends, a little luck, and a lot of laughs, a circus can grow just about anywhere.
Loosely based on a true story, both real and imagined!
Circus! is definitely the show to go for if you have small children with you, or even if you’re just looking for a fun time! The show follows a unique premise, where one of the circus performers is abandoned at the last minute by the rest of the circus, leaving only him to entertain the audience for the day. Using the help of audience members, Isaac Girardin puts together a show where you’ll forget that there’s only one performer on stage.
When you arrive at the venue, the first thing that will probably catch your eye is the impressive set. With simple materials, the artists were able to create a beautiful, traditional-circus looking set that immediately hooks you to the show. Another aspect that set this show apart from others was the high level of interactivity. Of course, other magic shows and performances of the sort involve audience members frequently, but since Girardin was the only one on stage, the constant help of audience members was necessary for the show to go on. Together, the performer and volunteers set up cool stunts that are rather simple, but they still get the job done.
In my opinion, the best part of the show was how entertaining it was for the children in the audience. To ensure that every single one of them got a turn on stage, Girardin set up a small parade at the start of the show, where the children (who were told to dress up in costume prior) got to march around on stage! It was a fun moment that I’m sure the children won’t forget.
If you’re hoping to see a Fringe performance that will captivate you with cool tricks and funny jokes, be sure to check this one out. After all, most people would like to see a show where audience members are stars!
“Circus!” is amazing, original, and down right fun! The host, Mr. Circus was soooooo funny, skilled, and a pleasure to spend an hour with. I loved the parade! Take your kids, take your grandkids, take your Mom! This is a wonderful experience for the whole family. Go see “Circus!”
This felt like an early version of a show that could benefit from more workshopping. It started quite slowly, with some of the opening time spent setting up all the props around across the stage. Some kids were excited to participate, while others seemed restless and started squirming. The performance portion wrapped up after about 45 minutes of a few modest circus acts, followed by time for kids to take photos and try spinning plates. I’ve seen other circus shows at Fringe that have been more entertaining.