A family friendly cabaret from the previously five-star-reviewed BrainFools. Does this second show soar to the heights of Lucky Pigeons?
Circus Enchanté delivers a showy display of acrobatics, clowning and artistry. But where on earth has the host gone?
The audience is so mixed, it’s a really tough ask to entertain everyone watching. There’s the tiniest of tots, pre-teens, families and later-life couples here to see the show. On this occasion, the crowd leans particularly young, there’s a large number of under-4s watching. For the purposes of this review, this feels a little unlucky for the troupe, who advertised the show as being best for over-7s. It changes the whole dynamic of a crowd. There’s a decision to make here: do you really reinforce the marketing, or adapt the show to suit those who want to see it?
The performance starts with lots of talking, which for physical comedy maestros like the BrainFools feels like a bit of a missed opportunity. It goes over the heads of the littlest audience members and doesn’t fully engage the biggest. The poignancy of BrainFools really comes from the imagery they create, they don’t need much in the way of words to enchant and entertain.
When you’re doing a show about a missing host, it needs to be delivered with the utmost confidence, so the audience feel reassured that the team are in control of proceedings. It’s a fun concept, but more could be done to extract the humour from this. A bit more silliness and slapstick, really getting the audience on-board with the game of finding the host. There’s signs of this, but it could be ramped up even further. It’s child’s play for an accomplished troupe like BrainFools.
The gang all take their turn in the spotlight at the Little Puck circus tent.
Rika Fujimoto takes over the role of host, seemingly at the last minute. She’s so elegant, so graceful, such a deliberately-but-unexpectedly screechy singer. Her artistry with aerial ribbons in the latter half of the show is really delightful to behold. Props for piano skills perfection too, these performers certainly put on a varied show.
Ben Kaufman delivers consistently awe-inspiring acrobatics with a cheeky demeanour that never fails to entertain. His hoop-play later in the show sends those watching into a spin, and he’s also a heavenly singer. No notes to see here.
Toffy Paulweber has a tenderness on stage that it’s hard to take your eyes off. We root for them through every move. A bit where they stride across upright glass bottles with bejewelled high heeled shoes on has the audience on tenterhooks. When they take to the stage with teammate Jared Shanks for a dance-fuelled acrobatic display, its sleek and stylish in the monochrome light, and really quite beautiful to watch.
Shanks takes his own turn centre stage with a jubilant juggling display with coloured balls that has one young audience member exclaiming in delight ‘What is that?’ across the circus tent. He’s also the consummate teammate, oft the reassuring, supportive structure for the acrobatics of others. Shanks takes this on with absolute professionalism. He has a strong, charming presence on stage that the audience really engage with.
The start of this show doesn’t quite hit the mark, but it spins back round for a showy finish, adorned with ribbons in the skies of the tent to much applause. This idea lacks the poignancy of their other touring show, the almost-wordless Lucky Pigeons, but therein may be a lesson about letting their iconic, extraordinary imagery speak for itself. All in all, Circus Enchanté offers a performance with potential from these lovable bunch of BrainFools. Worth a look as it develops further.
Reviewed on 27th May
