After a miserable, wet Wednesday we needed our spirits lifting so we dragged ourselves out from the warmth and trekked over to the Old Deer Park. Collecting our tickets from the Box Office we went through the elegant gates with bright fairy lights and admired the precise arrangements of the yellow circus trucks around the big top. The portaloos, I should add, were in pristine condition.
The Russian authenticity was apparent as we tried to communicate with the staff to obtain two hot dogs (£2 small, £3 large) and some water (£1.50) while others selected popcorn and candy floss. Inside the waiting area there was a bar and a merchandise stall – we bought a programme (£5) and admired the array of Russian dolls (one set of UK politicians) and brightly coloured tee shirts.
As we entered the big top – with Russian buildings on the curtains and swirling coloured lights - we questioned our choice of Ring Side seats, but reckoned that we were already wet from the weather. I admit though that we were mighty glad that the clowns didn’t pick on us – as they did other front rowers - to participate in hula hooping, playing in a band and throwing hats which they did throughout the show.
At 745pm there was a burst of dry ice and the lights lowered. The story – described in the programme as well as by the narrator - told a little of Russian history (how the Communists seized valuables for auction). The theme was set as lead clown Valerik (tall and good looking in a Rupert Everett kind of way – and multi-talented managing juggling, balancing and playing saxophone) and his side kick Valik (adorable red-nosed funny guy) goes in search of his Grandmother’s chairs to find hidden treasure.
All the acts were in the ring as they staged an auction. It was a bit of a slow start for the youngsters in the audience although the dancing, choreography and sparkling costumes meant that there was a lot to watch. The first act was a woman suspended in the air spinning large hoops while three women below posed dramatically with violins to the music. Then there was a suspended aerial act where a rather strong guy dangled and spun a woman below “OMG – he has her by her feet!” exclaimed my daughter.
It was wonderful to hear the small people in the audience laugh so heartily to the slapstick pranks of the clowns – especially when they juggled with fire and caught alight and made water rain down on themselves. Some diddlies near us were almost jumping out of their seats at the fun.
Then there was a troop in stunning white bandage and strap costumes where the guys held huge poles (and sometimes balanced them on their heads) while the girls and other guys shimmied up them to a height of 30 feet and then did acrobatics at the top. Gulp. I had to remember to breathe at times. The bouncy bhangra music and some lively dance routines added an interesting dimension to proceedings.
There was a great skipping act (wonder if it’ll catch on in the playgrounds again?) – at times there were up to four ropes turning with people skipping within other ropes. It was amazing to watch and you couldn’t quite take it all in. Then there was some more airborne acrobatics and I could hear my daughter gasping as it looked like some near collisions from the pair floating above us in their wispy genie pantaloons.
Then there was a trio juggling loads of batons – which then elevated in the air and rotated – they were exchanging batons with empty space at times. And the rotating arms made you think that those batons were going to land in your lap. At one point I even ducked.
After a short interval where the kids delighted in their whirligigs and light sabres there was a multi-person high wire act. Five performers made their way up almost 45 degree ropes to the high wire – some with those long poles and others with feather fans and lanterns. We couldn’t help that notice while many of those performing high level feats had safety wires, there were a fair few that didn’t. It added to the tension. At one point a chap was on a high wire with two people balancing above him. There were moments when we nearly couldn’t watch – one woman looked decidedly wobbly.
A few more acts and then a final feat where a chap built a tower of chairs – and performed acrobatic and strength moves as it got higher and higher. Finally, those mattress things came out and a troop of jewelled-coloured jesters did jumps, twists and turns at high speed – sometimes leaping over multiple canes and at other times bursting through paper rings. Again, your eyes didn’t know quite where to look there was so much going on.
Finally, all the acts came out to much clapping and said goodbye. It finished at 945pm which I suppose was a bit late for a school night. But it was a thoroughly entertaining two hours and we were really glad we had made the effort to brave the miserable weather for a mid-week treat.
It was good to see a traditional circus that has moved with the times. Some of the music was recognisable – Windmills of your mind, Pretty Woman. Maybe the lessons of Cirque du Soleil have been learned – although I preferred this performance to the last Cirque production that we saw at The Albert Hall. Being in a real big top, watching the guys move the kit while the clowns fooled about, the audience participation and the sheer proximity of it all made it feel more real and exciting. Maybe programmes such as Britain’s Got Talent have increased our appetite for daring and skilled acrobatic feats? And the theme – while loose – gave the whole show cohesion.
The Circus is at Richmond until 22nd April and then tours – next stop Fulham then on to Colchester, Essex and Brighton, Sussex. Adult tickets range from £10 to £29 and concessions from £7 to £22.
http://www.moscowstatecircus.com/
