In the Kingdom of Kong, at Big Kid Circus
I am coming to terms with a situation I have long alluded to whenever looking at a circus performance on YouTube: Among many set backs, your view is limited to where you are placed, to the camera's focus, and to the sometimes muddled split-focus imagery resulting from costumes and sets getting in the way. This post was spurred by Douglas McPherson's review of the Big Kid Circus. So here we go ...
ACTION VERSUS PRODUCTION: In the YouTube of a particularly lavish set, such as what Big Kid Circus offers patrons across the Big Pond, I found myself straining at times to stay focused on the act. For example, I was hooked by a single trap artist, who seemed to slither in and out of the proceedings.
In fact, the production has so much atmosphere -- flashing lights, lavish costuming and scenic effects, it can feel like getting lost in a gigantic birthday cake
EDITING: You may be watching a partially edited video, which will give you a distorted view of the entire performance. During a comedy number, the clowns were moving back and forth across the ring to an end point blocked by a scenic element.
ACTS COMPETING WITH PRODUCTION: Perhaps nothing in my big top You Tubing has come so close to making me feel at times swamped in the colors, lights, props and special effects. They are quite impressive here, but I still prefer clear sight lines to what the performers are doing.
MULTIPLE VERSIONS: Sometimes, someone will send me a link to another video of the same show --- "this has more of the story-line" -- "this shows the cris-cross flyers" -- which only begs the question, what else may be missing?
What I think I liked at Kingdom of Kong: Hard to believe that a roller skating act so impressed me. Also impressive juggling. The single trapeze guy. Human pyramids. Clowns bouncing balls against a wall that I could not fully see behind a blocked view. Five acrobats. Quick costume changes - terrific. Contortion dancing. Emphatic Afro dancing. The prevailing mood comes with heavy music that can overwhelm. This is not a wishy washy show. I can see it maybe being a lot of fun, especially when going with a friend.
Two big acts not so fun: The double wheel opens the show rather weakly The closing Globe of Death features three motor divas from Iran. With the unfortunate accidents to several globe of death riders recently, this will surely inflate the fear factor in these acts and only lessen the chances of their going away any time soon.
In his review Douglas calls it "the best looking big top show in Britain." Well worth reading, you will find it at circusmania.blogspot.com. Scroll down past a fascinating report he has just posted, with photos and comments. of his "whistle stop tour of some of its biggest traveling shows." Very interesting and educational. I can't remember reading anything about circus in India.
Blame it on YouTube.
2 comments:
Where one sees a tent show can matter also. Perhaps you will recall the only time you were inside the Kelly Miller tent (2009/2010?), Due to a last minute change of lots, we were stuck with a lot that caused numerous problems.
When I was in the Navy in 1970 I caught the Polack show in a building in Seattle. It was an excellent show in all respects. A couple of weeks later, I saw that same performance outdoors one sunny afternoon in an elderly ball park in Bremerton. All the sparkle was gone.
Thanks, Jim! ...
A fascinating subject. I well remember Kelly Miller in 2017, Brewster, NY? Seems there were electrical cables strewn about and mobile units close to the entrance. But inside the tent, all was well, and a very good show.
Ringling’s saddest days were surely the first years away from the big top, when they had to play sometimes in front of a fairgrounds racetrack bleachers, worse yet, in the rain! But the doggedly adaptive Art Concello made it work in the long run.
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