REVIEW

THE MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS

WEYMOUTH PAVILION

FORGET exotic animals parading around a sawdust arena and clowns with whitened faces doing daft tricks, these now belong to the past. Circus these days is about performing people and nobody does it better than the numerous Moscow companies who all trade under the same State Circus title.

A cast of more than 20 athletes show off their talents in a fast moving production that is jaw dropping for the risks they take against an exotic background of colourful sets, costumes and big band pre-recorded musical accompaniment.

Taking place on theatre stages rather than in a big top, the national tour included three performances at Weymouth and is inevitably restricted by the space and height of the different locations they visit, the result of which means that the traditional high wire trapeze acts normally associated with this form of entertainment are sadly absent.

That being said, the young artists bring creativity and immense skill to the numerous acts in this show which include acrobatics, roller skating, trampoline, juggling and trapeze, all performed with precision and grace.

A master of ceremonies takes on the humourous circus clown role as, made up to look like an old man, he bumbles around in amateurish fashion between the different acts but eventually reveals himself to be a masterly performer on a trampoline.

A fairy tale opening sequence tells the traditional tale of a girl who is granted seven wishes and she predictably selects stuff like roller skates as she joins in the varied routines which flow in quick succession during an evening of unsophisticated humour blended with great artistry.

The storyline also gives some of the artists a chance to speak, this usually being the exclusive province of the clowns in circuses and that innovation also made a welcome and interesting change to the normal big top scenario.

With audience participation throughout, this was an evening for all the family to enjoy and it is to the credit of the Pavilion organisers that they secured a visit by this touring production that can have been no easy task to deliver.

MARION COX