Circus Oz
Concept and Artistic
Direction: Rob Tannion
Canberra Theatre to
18 August
Reviewed by Len Power
17 August 2018
Circus Oz was founded in 1978 and has since performed in 27
different countries, across five continents.
Their shows have been described as ‘an intimate spectacle of unrelenting
energy, humour, multi-skill playing, surreal imagery, grace and strength, fully
integrated with a live and original musical score’.
In this production, entitled ‘Model Citizens’, the cast of 10,
including two musicians, performed a breath-taking series of acrobatic routines
employing every-day objects from modern life such as safety pins, irons, knives,
fire, clothes pegs, credit cards and even laundry hanging on a line. What they did with them was anything but
ordinary. Seeing normal sized people
interacting with these giant-sized objects created an almost surreal, dream-like
experience.
The production design by Michael Baxter is an attractive
realization of Rob Tannion’s concept for the show. The complex lighting design by Maddy Seach is
colourful and complements the production design very well. The costumes by Laurel Frank are imaginative
and with humorous touches that work nicely.
The performers displayed extraordinary athletic and performance
skills. There were enjoyable flashes of
irreverent humour throughout the show, especially one cheeky routine involving
underwear and another of dizzy sheep being chased around the theatre by a ferocious
sheep dog. The enormous credit cards
stacked to a dizzying height with a performer balancing on top was deliciously
scary and the routine performed by the girl in the cocktail glass balancing and
rolling umbrellas with her feet was skilful and elegant. There were aerial ballet routines of great
beauty, terrific acts involving hoops and juggling and a grand finale involving
breath-taking stunts on a high rope ladder strung across and above the stage.
All of the performers displayed winning personalities as
well as good comic timing. The original music
score suited the tone of the show and there were a couple of good songs as well,
one with clever lyrics about ‘Diversity’.
It’s difficult to credit individual performers as there was no program
for the show.
This was a hugely enjoyable production that delighted the
large audience of adults and children.
Photos by Rob Blackburn
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast in his ‘On Stage’ performing arts radio program on Mondays
and Wednesdays from 3.30pm on Artsound FM 92.7.
