But Wait… There’s More

Though its programme cover suggests that But Wait… There’s More is touring a repetition of the performance it last presented, most of its acts are in fact fresh ones.  This production has something for everybody: a good deal of skylarking and costumery aimed at children, more than a suggestion of raunchiness aimed at adults, rap for young admirers of U.S. culture, a good deal of music at a volume suitable for the profoundly deaf (parents’ pleas to the sound technician falling on deaf ears), and an eclectic mix of acrobatics and juggling for everybody.  Those who have attended several modern circus productions may not find a great deal in it that they have not seen before, but the uni- and bicycling stunts certainly had style; the juggling was extremely elegant; there was much fun on the trapezes; and nearly its entirety would appeal to any young child.

If the production lacks one thing, it is cohesiveness.  It doesn’t seem to know who it’s for or what it’s for, but rather suggests concatenation of an unrelated bunch of promising acts with a flimsy wrapping of extremity.

One may overlook that, though.  The show hits the senses, with imaginative lighting, some good costuming, and surprising versatility.  At least eight (or was it several dozen?) of the dozen on-stage physical performers also played challenging instruments; and everybody had several disparate roles on stage.  The energy never flagged while the cast was on stage.  And cast members involved audience members in local pranks even before the show began, warming them up for the unexpected.

Most of these performers being highly talented either in their physical specialities or in acting, their talents are on finest display when their purpose in using them is clear.  This particular production may not have had the benefit of quite the artistic or narrative vision that might have shed a light of understanding on what it was all going to be about; but the acts represent a fine catalogue of what is possible in Australian-produced circus.

John P. Harvey

Image: But Wait… There's More.  Photographer: John P. Harvey.