Presented by
Edgley Attractions.
Majura Park
– Majura Road, Canberra until 25th April 2016.
Canberra
opening night performance on 6th April reviewed by Bill Stephens.
When Eric
(Mick) Edgley introduced the first Great Moscow Circus to Australian audiences
in 1965, traditional circus in Australia was changed forever. After Edgley died
in 1968, his son, Michael, took over the reins and for the last 50 years has
continually scoured Russia to source the world’s most accomplished circus
performers for regular editions of The Great Moscow Circus.
For this
celebratory 50th Anniversary edition, Michael Edgley has added some
talented home grown acts to the mix, coming up with a touring traditional
circus which would challenge any similar circus in the world, and of course, presented
with the trademark panache and attention to detail and presentation that
audiences have come to expect from an Edgley circus.
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| Daring high trapeze act . |
The adrenalin
kicks in from the moment of entering the garish yellow and red big top bedecked
with colourful minarets and banners promising “The Greatest, Great Moscow
Circus”. Cheerful cast members, disguised as staff, offer greetings as well delicious
smelling popcorn, Dagwood dogs, fairy floss and colourful whizzing gadgets,
while ushering wide-eyed, parent-clutching tots to their seats where they
discover Nino, a surprisingly young and personable clown, busily prepping the
audience.
The start of
the show is heralded by a spectacular parade involving colourfully costumed
acrobats and a giant maypole. A lithe young woman, clad head to toe in
sparkling Swarovski crystals, is whisked high above the audience to perform
really risky manoeuvres like hanging by her toes, or by just one ankle, suspended
from a small hoop.
 |
| Russian Acrobats with beams |
Nine
muscular young Russian acrobats toss each other about on narrow beams,
returning later in the show, to propel each other even higher into a chair atop
of a tall pole carried by a team-mate, then higher still into a chair carried
by a second team-mate standing on the shoulders of the first. Exciting stuff !
A Russian
Cossack dances on a high tightrope, an amazing Chinese ballerina dances en
pointe on her partner’s shoulders, and there’s a heart-stopping high flying
trapeze act. Later, there’s an even more heart-stopping trapeze act involving
an impossibly beautiful couple who perform surprisingly erotic apache dance suspended
high above the audience. Don’t try this one at home.
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| Chinese ballerina en pointe on partner's shoulder |
It’s not all
stunning acrobatics though. Edgley has made sure there are lots to keep the
littlies boggle-eyed. Enchanting, were six ultra-cute, glitter-sprinkled
liberty ponies that performed charmingly while soap bubbles floated around
them. Startling, were three camels, two lamas and two water buffalo, cleverly
trained to perform dutifully together in the circus ring. And if all that were
not enough there is the gorgeous macaw which flies through a flower-decorated
hoop held by an audience member.
 |
| Liberty horses showered with bubbles |
If you
thought you had seen the ultimate during the last Great Moscow Circus, when
four daring motor-cyclists whizzed around the steel “Globe of Death”. Think
again. This time it’s six, yes count ‘em, six ridiculously foolhardy Cuban
daredevils who stand your hair on end.
There are
too many acts to list them all here, but efficient stage-management keeps them
coming fast and furiously. And in case you were wondering, don’t worry if the
night is chilly, Edgley has arranged for
the big-top to be heated throughout the Canberra season.
This review first published in the digital edition of CITY NEWS on 7th April 2016
