Circus Oz: From the Ground Up

Circus Oz: From the Ground Up
Directed by Ed Boyle and Mark Finch
His Majesty's Theatre, Perth (WA
). August 29-31, 2013.

As a regular His Maj patron, it was a little disconcerting to go to the Circus at The Maj. Rough and ready circus types clambouring over the seats pre-show, where we had watched the opera only a couple of weeks ago, felt somehow ...wrong...until the show started for real and it was just so brilliantly right.
 

Themed around a construction site, the show is compared in part by the very engaging Mark Sheppard, an indigenous actor, dancer and clown with an over abundance of charm. It is designed to look haphazard and off the cuff, but is brilliantly timed and outstandingly performed.


All of the cast have a moment to shine, with the musicians (musically directed by Carl Polke) incorporated into the action and also having moments in the limelight as pianist Ania Reynolds plays suspended in the air and percussionist Bec Matthews is swung around the stage as she performs.
 

The ultimate in variety shows, memorable acts included the clown magic of Jez Davies, who held the audience in the palm of his hand, the foot juggling of the very personable Hazel Bock and the varied talents of Dale Woodbridge whose acrobatics, tumbling, trapeze, baton twirling, dance and clowning formed a cornerstone of the performance. Mason West's swaypole performance was a showstopper while the gorgeous Stevee Mills was tossed every which-way across the stage using every device imaginable. Special mention must be made of a performer "Spencer" who presumeably was a replacement for the absent Flip Kammerer. A seemingly seamless addition, her hoop routine was stunning and the absence of a key performer was evident only to those attempting to piece together reviews.


This was a performance that felt like a riotous celebration from beginning to end. The relaxed manner of the performers endeared them to the audience and the exposure of their humanity made their super-human skills even more impressive. A brilliant show.

Kimberley Shaw

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