Created and Directed
by Yaron Lifschitz and Benjamin Knapton
Performed by
Kathryn and Paul O’Keefe and Gareth Chin
Music by
Mozart and Quincy Grant
Lighting
Design by Geoff Squires.
Canberra
Theatre Centre Playhouse 6TH November 2020.
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
Here’s a
little gem of a show that really lives up to its name, magical, musical (Mozart
no less), and definitely circus.
Skilfully conceived around the talents of two versatile acrobats,
Kathryn and Paul O’Keefe, and a whimsical musician, Gareth Chin, “Wolfgang’s
Magical Musical Circus” transports its willing audience into a world where
deliciously silly chaos reigns supreme.
 |
| Paul and Kathryn O"keefe in "Wolfgangs Magical Mystery Circus |
The
adventure begins when a lonely birthday girl (Kathryn O’Keefe) discovers a
recording of classical music on a gramophone. When she starts to play the
recording, Mozart himself, (Paul O’Keefe) appears in a puff of smoke riding a
bicycle, on which he hares around the stage gleefully demonstrating 101 things
to do on a bike. They then follow with a succession of well-worn clown, mime
and acrobatic routines, cleverly re-invented and reworked to depict a friendly
but competitive relationship between the birthday girl and her imaginary
friend.
No words are
necessary as both performers are skilful mimes with highly developed acrobatic
skills. Whether they’re engaged in a hilarious wrestle over a collapsing music
stand, struggling with an unco-operative follow-spot, balancing dangerously on
a precarious tower of chairs, engaging in a slow-motion punch-up with an eye-watering
climax, or executing an astonishing pas de deux in which the girl balances
Mozart on her shoulders while en pointe, they un-erringly engage their young
audience and carry them along with the action.
 |
| Paul O'Keefe - Gareth Chin - Kathryn O'Keefe in "Wolfgang's Magical Mystery Circus |
An important component of the show is the music, and to this end, Quincy Grant, utilising recorded music, augmented with the live accordion skills of Gareth Chin, has devised a delightful mash-up of Mozart’s favourite hits to accompany the action.
Given the
age-range of the target-audience, it’s doubtful that many of them would be
aware of the connection between the brattish, boisterous disrupter on stage and
the sublime music accompanying his joyously naughty actions, but this clever
show provides a deliciously subversive way of introducing them to his music.
A notable
feature of this show is the stylish design consisting of white chairs and
tables, two white doors and a white mat set in a black space, with the perimeters
outlined in neon, all providing the perfect environment for Geoff Squires to
contribute to the magic with his sophisticated lighting design.
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| Gareth Chin - Paul and Kathryn O'Keefe in Wolfgang's Magical Mystery Circus |
Judging from
the gales of laughter and continuous gurgles of delight through-out as well as
the boisterous cheers at the end, “Wolfgang’s Magical Musical Circus” certainly
succeeded in pleasuring its target audience.
Perhaps it might even have inspired a few of them to find out more about
that cheeky chappie who inspired the show.