Cirque Surreal

First impression on phoning up for information was impressive - straight through to a person who advised all the prices and that a side circle family ticket would work out best, £27 for three of us, Brad off playing cricket instead and not too fussed. However, second impression on calling to actually book, not so good. Queuing for ages, when finally through, the family ticket had jumped to £46.50 for the side circle, including the £1.50 booking fee per ticket! So we ended up in the even cheaper seats, the rear circle. But it’s acrobatics and stuff isn’t it, who aren’t going to stay still at the front of the ring. At just 1 hour 40 minutes including a 20 minute break, it’d better be good or I shall be extremely miffed with colleagues at work who were so enthusiastic about it.

Maybe it was the intense heat, maybe the ticket office had put me in a bad mood or maybe I’m just getting old - but I wasn’t overly impressed with the first half. The ‘hysterically funny’ clown I’d heard about was more like a less funny Mr Bean, with a bald head and white face. Frankly, I’d have been happy with a custard pie and ladder routine. I’m all for surreal provided it entertains me and /or makes me laugh but there seemed to be a lot of posey walking around and the initial bit of acrobatics was on the ordinary side. And then of course, came Captain Jack and the drain pipes (I didn’t ask). Like I said, we’re in the cheap seats but at the front with nothing in front of us. Until they took up residence there neatly blocking the previously excellent view of the ring! The act on at the time might have been good; I wouldn’t know.

The second half picked up though and thankfully, the best acts were those taking place in the air, on ropes, trapeze and, worth the admission price alone, The Wheel of Death or the Human Hamsters as I called them - real heart-in-the-mouth time. Back on the ground, there was a very impressive young man who juggled five footballs, whose co-ordination was incredible; forget patting your head and rubbing your tummy, try spinning a ball on the index finger of each hand whilst playing keepy uppy! Even Cap’n Jack had his moment with a bit of extreme yo-yoing; could’ve fetched himself a nasty injury had he got distracted. The gymnasts strength and suppleness was incredible, a tiny man balancing a woman in full arabesque in block ballet shoes - on his right shoulder muscle! Most unflattering costumes though, since the Emperor wore his new suit for a walkabout. Similarly, the lady on the single trapeze appeared quite blasé about twisting in mid air to catch the swing with her legs, and our clown also showed that the traditional kind of humour is sometimes more effective, calling on some audience participation to great effect. The acrobats came back and this time showed their full range which left you gasping: One guy must have done twenty side somersaults around that ring, without missing a beat. But back to the Hamster men - bottom row, 2nd left in the pics - that contraption was thirty foot up in the air, spinning vertically and they’re running around the outside! And not a safety net in sight!