CIRCUS OZ: PRECARIOUS REVIEW

Review of Circus Oz's new show Precarious for RMITV. (July 2018)

Celebrating their 40th year of performing, Circus Oz has returned home to Melbourne with their new fast-paced spectacular Precarious.

Precarious is a non-stop 70 minute production filled with all the usual circus favourites, from hula-hooping to juggling to aerial slings. Combined with the comedy, musical performance and political messages that Circus Oz are proud to continually bring to their audiences, this is a show that has something for all ages, but will be especially loved by kids.

Circus Oz Artistic Director Rob Tannion and independent director Kate Fryer co-created the story of Precarious which is set in a world where the environment is ruled by the incompetent bureaucracy that is the ‘Ministry of Nature’. The performance explores the importance of nature through the idea of the value of plant seeds and uses the title and acrobatics to infer that now is a precarious time for our environment’s future.

The performance features a cast of seven acrobats who each have their own speciality, whether it be on the Chinese pole or extreme balance. With such a small cast, it is necessary for all characters to appear in many different routines and it is wonderful to see their wide-ranging talent. The group acrobatics are smoothly performed with impressive partner work, and it is clear how much the performers are all enjoying themselves.

Many of the tricks are advanced versions of common acrobatic and gymnastic tricks – such as handstands, ‘the worm’ and walkovers – but the familiarity should help to inspire a new generation of circus stars out of the many kids in the audience. Precarious is a great show to take kids along to for the school holidays – the comedy throughout the acts and the pre-show crowd interaction with the cast will have them laughing the whole way through.

The stage design inside the Big Top is simple but helps to tell the story and works well with the cute and quirky costuming. The lighting is exceptional, making some scenes incredibly dramatic. There are no curtains hiding the rigging from which the aerial apparatuses are suspended which allows any curious audience members a good insight into the set-up and operation of acts such as the trapeze or the aerial hoop. Whilst the set is small, Circus Oz have created numerous ledges and platforms to allow multiple acts to be performed at the same time. The only negative is that occasionally plot-based or comedic performances were easily missed when they had to compete with an impressive acrobatic act.

Highlights of the show were Lachlan Sukroo on the swinging Chinese Pole, who looked incredibly effortless, and Tara Silcock’s foot juggling of a solid cylinder block. Kids also loved Emily Gare putting a long metal nail up her nose and appearing not to feel that it was there. The rest of the acts were good, but not unbelievable due to the small scale of the show and stage. Occasional mistakes were made but these were laughed off in character and easy to ignore or even miss. Generally, the performers’ strength and balance tricks were confidently completed, and a few shaky moments only proved how difficult the movements actually were.

The show is complemented by a two-person musical ensemble (Jeremy Hopkins and Sophia Exiner) whose original music is catchy and unique. Hopkins and Exiner also sing a duet which is littered with political and comedic lyrics. The crowd roared with laughter as the song concluded with the line ‘maybe life is meant to be boring’, which left us thinking that these performers’ lives are probably anything but.

Precarious was a fun show that allows its audience an intimate view of a circus. The show features a little bit of everything and is great for kids but anyone who attends will leave feeling a part of the Circus Oz family.