Low Down

Circus troup "Circus Oz" celebrates their 30th birthday with their ninth UK tour, showcasing a brand new show that contains a fine blend of new and established pieces of acrobatic, aerial and juggling skill of the highest order. A live band accompanies the knockabout, gaspworthy feats that will delight young and young-at-heart.

Review

Why do we review circus? Quite simply, because circus is theatre. The performers are in "role" and acts usually contain their own narrative, as do entire shows, with clearly defined characters and sometimes even a storyline.

Founded in 1978, Circus Oz brought together two already established groups - Soapbox Circus and the New Ensemble Circus. Thirty years later, Circus Oz takes to the road (and quite a lot of the air) with their ninth tour of the UK. Circus Oz is high quality theatre.

The Assembly Stage was small compared to their own Big Top, so how would the troupe fare in such enclosed, semi-round surroundings? We weren't disappointed. A big strength of the show is the theatre and humour. There is a lot of banter between characters and also with the audience. Each perofmer is costumed as a particular character - we have the walking-sticked man, the Teddy-boy compere, and the short and loud would-be leader, to name but a few. Unlike other circus shows I have seen, the comedy scripting, adlibbing and characterising is of a high order, and very much part of the show's theatrical strength.

Verbal and visual jokes come thick and fast, between and during the set pieces. The opening pole piece is atmospheric, with each performer taking on a different character and just about every performer ending up the same pole!

The skill is high enough to draw "wows" from many audience members. There's an engaging mix of precision skill in different kinds of juggling and balancing, alongside the usual aerial and acrobatic work. A highlight are the jumping, somersaulting, boxing kangaroos, and a superb juggling act involving dressing and undressing.

It's all done with accomplished ease, accompanied by a musical score that sets and maintains a breakneck pace and a don't-look-away-or-you-might-miss-it mood.

My only quibbles are that there is perhaps too much jugging in this show. Though it takes different forms, the narrative if often a bit too smaey across the juggling set pieces. Also the P.A system for the perforners' voices was not always clear enough and many of the jokes and one-liners were hard to hear.

That said, this is such an enjoyable show, defiintely for all the family, with a few close to the watershed moments for the easily offended. Buy, hey, this is Circus Oz - what do you expect? It's brash, it's bold, and it's always watchable and highly enjoyable.

Reviewed by PL 2nd August 2008

Website :

www.circusoz.com.au