Spiegeltent Big Top
Majura Park to
December 17
Reviewed by Len Power
10 November 2017
It seems even circuses must change with the times. Animal acts have gone, Cirque Du Soleil
became an international sensation and now here in Australia we have the touring
show, ‘Infamous’, which is self-described as an adult ‘cirque-cabaret’.
It’s still a circus with traditional acts like trapeze, high
wire and aerial work and clowning but its atmosphere and style are definitely
more in tune with today. Set in a
beautifully designed Spiegel Tent Big Top, there’s lots of hazy lighting,
heavily amplified rock music, a pop singer, slinky female dancers in minimal
costumes and drinks served at the bar or brought to your seats by pretty
waitresses. It’s an adult show playing
an extended season in Canberra only at night.
You can’t bring the children.
There are only a small number of actual circus performers,
most of whom are multi-skilled. Joseph Ashton,
of the Ashton circus family leads the company and at least two of his grown
children continue the family tradition by performing in the show.
Everyone will have their favourite act. Particularly impressive and clever was the
rag doll contortionist, the extraordinary juggler, the two man balancing act,
the clown with the big red balloon, the heart-stopping wheel of death and the exciting
trapeze finale. There were about 13 acts
altogether and they were all entertaining.
The show isn’t all that infamous, despite its title, and the
adult content won’t bother anyone. It’s
a good, slightly more sophisticated evening of circus fun which will appeal to
the child in all of us.
‘Infamous’ runs 2 hours including a lengthy interval. Drinks are available from the bar before and
during the show and the venue at Majura Park has plenty of parking just across
the road near Cosco.
Photos from the media preview by Len Power
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7’s new ‘On Stage’ program on Mondays from
3.30pm and on ‘Artcetera’ from 9.00am on Saturdays.