Contributing Writers: Whitney Casser and Kat Harrison
Lights! Cameras! PONIES! The Big Apple Circus is
celebrating 34 years (and the infamous Grandma is buttoning up his…erm, her
dress for the very last season). With typical circus fare in hand, two New York Family editors see the colorful—okay,
and a little bit wacky—show for the first time. Read on for their reviews.
(Plus, continue to the very end of the article for a chance to win tickets to the
circus!) —
TAKE ONE: When you go to the circus—especially Big Apple’s
lively, almost cinematic production—it’s a laugh-from-your-belly kind of afternoon. And honestly, I am not sure who was cackling more. Me or the little guy
next to me who didn’t sit down once. His
hyper jittering mirrored the Big Apple’s opening number (complete with a bit of
crooning, á la the fanciful Ringmistress, Jenna Robinson) and it just kept going. Now that, my friends, is a
happy audience member.
The Big Apple succeeds in
so many ways: in being excellently paced (not too fast, but not inherently
slow) and each act is infused with a little something, something that makes you
engaged but anticipatory of what’s to come. No seat is more than 50 feet from
the ring (which isn’t a publicity stunt by the way, they speak the truth under
the Big Top)—so every pony gallop and every acrobatic flip is palpable and
within your reach.
Personally, I ate up every
moment of Anna Volodko’s aerial rope act. Like a windy cobra (an effortlessly elegant
one at that), this Russian native slithered and looped and tethered her way
along the rope like she was drinking her morning coffee! Whatever oatmeal she’s
consuming for breakfast…I want some.
With one 15-minute
intermission, the all-new show by the valiant Big Apple crew is at once
entertaining and refreshing—with your family or a few friends. Though I
strongly urge: besides spitting water out of your mouth (thanks for the laughs,
Grandma), keep the circus stunts AWAY from the living room!
–Kat Harrison, Associate Editor
TAKE TWO:
It was a chilly Sunday afternoon in the Big Apple. We were all between the ages
of 26 and 37 years old. And we were all wearing big red clown noses—bulbous and
bright. In any other setting we’d look ridiculous, downright crazy. But we were
at the Big Apple Circus. And we were loving it.
Without eager kids in tow,
you’d think the circus might be an obligatory headache of chaos and color. But
The Big Apple Circus is as much a show for big kids (read: twenty-somethings,
newlyweds and stylish yuppies) as it is for little ones. If you enjoyed the
circus when you were young, chances are, you will love the circus as an adult. It’s a completely different
experience, in some pretty spectacular ways.
Comedic magicians are all
the funnier and caricatured clowns are all the more charming. There’s subtlety
to the acts that may be lost on younger viewers. Instead of watching the actual
trapeze artists swing from daring heights, I took in the brilliance of their shadows
being cast on the ceiling of the famous Big Top. As a trio of black beauties
executed some well-choreographed steps, my eyes and ears were on the
professional animal trainer who masterfully guided the pony drill team with a
series of clicks and whispers. While Grandma the Clown did her usual shtick, I
couldn’t help but notice the reaction of the crowd—kids jumping out of their
seats, adults cracking up at the audience participation.
With beer and loaded hot
dogs in hand, our foursome may not have performed the traditional circus
routine of cotton candy and swinging glow sticks, but we fully immersed
ourselves in the Big Apple experience: talented live musicians, international
performers from Bulgaria, China, Ethiopia and Kenya, and costumes that will
inspire for years to come. The only thing we all couldn’t agree on? Which
circus act impressed us the most. From acrobats and contortionists, to jugglers
and clowns, all I can say is that you should probably see the show, and be the
judge for yourself.
–Whitney Casser, Senior
Editor
TICKET GIVEAWAY! Interested in experiencing the Big Apple magic, too? We have TWO family four-packs to give
away for the performance on Wednesday, December 21. To enter, send us an email explaining why you’d like to win to familygiveaways@manhattanmedia.com
and put “Big Apple Circus” in the subject line. Be sure to include your contact
info and address. Then, comment
on our Facebook Page. Deadline to enter is Friday, November 18. Performances of Big Apple Circus run until January 8 of next year.
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: Andrew
Schwartz
