Theater Review: Arts & Ideas' 'Circus' Is a Heartfelt and Enthralling Attraction

Summary

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"Circus," Barabbas Theatre Company's enchanting show kicking off the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, defies one's usual preconception of the garden variety, three-ring affair. It is a quiet display of athleticism, strength and love story unlike anything you're likely to see on land or sea.

Performing in its U.S. debut at University Theatre through Saturday, this Irish troupe combines acrobatics, music, clowning and pathos in modest trappings with boundless skill. Inspired by Federico Fellini's 1950's film "La Strada," the four performers ward up their audience with a game of bat-the-ball, in which Harle (Hillas Smith), dressed as a somewhat serious ringleader, tosses balls to audience members to pitch to Gubu (Colm O'Grady), standing in a barrel with what appears to be the world's smallest cricket bat. Mook (Trevor Knight), a veritable one-man band, accompanies this business with his accordion. Before long, the show starts in earnest with Harle and Gubu juggling and performing other routines, notably one in which Mook, dressed in the humblest of lion costumes, begrudgingly executes some even humbler animal tricks.

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Theater Review: Arts & Ideas' 'Circus' Is a Heartfelt and Enthralling Attraction

After Mook is eternally booted from the act for his lack of...

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