It’s a dazzlingly simple idea.
Use the beautiful circular form of a spiegeltent and direct all the attention to a small round stage in the centre, lit with a circle of lights. This is La Ronde.
In a stunning ninety minute show, producers Strut and Fret bring us the cream of international new circus talent – all taking their turn to shine on the small round stage.
We begin with Gigi McFarlane – a stylish seventies soul girl with a soaring voice, direct from Barcelona. Then comes Polina Karvovskaya, a mesmerising aerialist from Belarus, whose body contorts into impossibly beautiful shapes as she rises towards the roof of the tent, suspended only by her hair.
Every circus needs a clown and La Ronde has Sam Goodburn – a twisty unicycling Brit in a bobble hat – who juggles with biscuits, teaches audience members some moves and tangles himself up in his trousers.
There’s more sexy artistry from mouth hanging Columbian Felipe Reyes, while Australian trapeze artist Adam Malone gets his freak on with hoops and heels. Blonde bombshell aerialist Diana Bondarenko dazzles direct from Berlin while pole dancer Sergey Mishchurenko, from Ukraine, burns with intensity and power. The bodies are brilliantly lit, as one mind bogglingly beautiful contortion follows another and each act shows the pinnacle of their practice and skill.
There are surprises. In one astonishing moment Reyes, hanging from the roof by his teeth, conceals his entire body inside an unfurling flower. After a burst of Louis Armstrong, chanteuse McFarlane appears atop a giant scarlet mirror ball. Trapeze acts are punctuated by unexpected bursts of fire.
Strut and Fret, who are the Australian circus producers of past international hits such as Cantina, Limbo and Blanc de Blanc, have created a fast-moving feast of delights – all set to a rock, soul and jazz soundtrack. It’s fun and sexy, with an amazing array of performers who’ll have you gasping at the strength and beauty of the human body.
These are world class acts at the height of their power but it also takes a lot of excellence and skill to frame these diverse talents in such a stunning and direct way. The costumes are simple, with an emphasis on red, white and black – and apart from a giant mirror ball, several packets of biscuits and a lot of very strong rope there is very little set.
It’s a treat from start to finish. And it has a timeless artistry. You can imagine Toulouse-Lautrec hunched in a booth sketching the shapes created by these bodies twisting, stretching and flowering in the spotlight
This is live entertainment which reminds you what live entertainment can do. No tricks, no electronic wizardry, barely any cameraphones in sight – just a room full of people in an art deco theatre tent watching wonders unfurl through wide open eyes.
La Ronde is at the Garden of Unearthly Delights, Adelaide Fringe until March 23. Ticket link below.
https://www.gardenofunearthlydelights.com.au/event/la-ronde
Disclaimer: Claire Smith has family connections with Strut and Fret. She’s not biased – but she’d like them all to know she loves them and is proud of them.
