Review: CIRQUE: THE GREATEST SHOW at The Churchill Theatre, Bromley


Date: 5th January 2024

Seat: J16 (Stalls)

Tickets: Gifted

Rating: 3 Stars 

If you’re a fan of impressive circus acts and you’re a bit of a fan of musical theatre, Cirque: The Greatest Show is definitely going to be up your street. It’s a combination of the two things and it all blends together to create an evening of fun and thrills with some excellent musical song and dance numbers thrown in. What more could you ask for? 

The songs come from various shows, and as the name suggests, there’s a fairly big emphasis on tunes from The Greatest Showman (Cirque begins and ends with songs from that musical). Other musicals showcased included Moulin Rouge, Rocketman, We Will Rock You, and more. 

The songs perform the backdrop to some excellent circus acts, including aerial acrobats, a contortionist, a fire performer, loads of gymnastics, juggling, and a set piece that included more quick changes than I’ve ever seen on stage before to finish off the first act. 

Linking all this together, and perhaps the star of the show, is a mime who has a tale to tell. He begins the Cirque by winning a competition for a TV, and it’s his channel surfing on his new device that gives us the acts and songs we see performed. But he also has some fantastic tricks up his sleeve (sometimes literally), and in between the circus acts and singing (to cover up the fact that various pieces of equipment are being moved about and costume changes are happening, which is a clever idea), he does magic tricks, jokes with the audience, and generally clowns around. Beware if you’re sitting in the front row; you might end up on stage with him! 

The mime’s life is one of black and white, a dreary kind of existence, but little by little, as he watches the world unfold through his TV, he starts gaining some colour – literally. By the end, he’s dressed in a rainbow suit and is finally part of the show itself. It’s a lovely little story that connects all the dots, and since he was genuinely funny, it added an element of humour to Cirque that would otherwise have been missing. 



If I have any niggles with Cirque: The Greatest Show, it’s that the circus acts, while entertaining, were probably the weakest element – the singing was fabulous (those performers really were enjoying themselves!), and the mime artist’s story, tricks, and jokes raised everything up to the next level, but to really make this show shine, the circus acts could have been bigger and more jaw-dropping (although each venue is going to allow for different things to take place, so they will always be a little restricted). And the musical choices were good, but not entirely my cup of tea. Yes to The Greatest Showman, yes to Moulin Rouge, but what about some Phantom? Some Les Mis? Some of the real classics that everyone knows would have really added a cherry on the cake. 

All in all, Cirque: The Greatest Show is a great piece of entertainment, and with a few tweaks, it could be really exceptional – it’s a unique premise, and there’s no doubt there’s a lot of talent on that stage. 

Find tickets to your local performance here: https://cirqueshow.co.uk/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: I WISH MY LIFE WERE LIKE A MUSICAL

Image
  Photo credit: Rod Penn Tickets: Gifted Date: 31st August 2023  Seat: H16  Rating: 5 Stars Who among us hasn't wistfully wished our lives were like a musical when we're sitting in a theatre, gazing up at the stage? I know I have, and I'm pretty sure I can't be the only one, otherwise  I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical  wouldn't exist.  It's a good thing it does.  Written by Alexander S. Bermange (who also appears on stage playing the piano – the only instrument used throughout across 16 songs in a rapid 70-minute runtime) and directed and choreographed by Matthew Parker, this short show is an ode not just to musicals, but to those who love them, from excited theatregoer to 'super fan', as well as the performers themselves.  I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical  starts as it means to go on, with the cast of Jennifer Caldwell, Julie Yammanee, Sev Keoshgerian, and Rhidian Marc donning glitzy gold waistcoats and high-kicking across the stage. Thi...
Read more

Review: CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG at The Hawth, Crawley

Image
  Date: 20th August 2024 Seat: R15 Tickets: Gifted Rating: 4 Stars  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is something we’ve all grown up with; it’s just always been there, reliable and faithful as the car itself, so what would it be like on stage? Could it be just as heart-warming and nostalgia-inducing? The answer is yes – the show is full of charm, energy, and just the right amount of nostalgia. If you love the film, you’ll love the show; there are even some extra song and dance numbers thrown in.  One of the things that really makes a show like Chitty , much like the film itself, is the cast, and this cast is an exceptional one. Adam Garcia shone as Caractacus Potts, bringing warmth and charisma to the role, and his performance of “Hushabye Mountain” was beautifully heartfelt, and his playful banter with Ellie Nunn’s Truly Scrumptious was spot-on. She’s a modern-day Truly, trousers and all, and it works for a modern-day audience without taking away anything that makes the characte...
Read more

Review: BRONCO BILLY at The Charing Cross Theatre, London

Image
Photo credit: The Other Richard Date: 31st January 2024 Seat: M6 (Stalls) Tickets: Gifted Rating: 3 Stars  Adapting older movies into musicals seems to be a trend these days, some with better results than others, and Bronco Billy , with a book by Dennis Hackin and music and lyrics by Chip Rosenbloom and John Torres (with additional lyrics by Michele Brourman), is one of the better ones – if anything, it’s improved the film and made it a lot more enjoyable for everyone, which is something every audience member is sure to appreciate.  The main word that can be used to describe Bronco Billy is fun. It’s wild and wacky and loud and bright, and there are some wonderful characters and some lovely songs, but really when you leave, it’s the fun you’ve had that stays with you, and that’s no bad thing – if you’re feeling a bit down because January lasted for sixty billion months and you need a quick pick-me-up, Bronco Billy might just do the trick.  The story is about a travellin...
Read more