In the “backyard” away from the roar of the crowds if not the smell of the greasepaint some classic circus acts of a bearded lady, strongman, clown and acrobat are taking a break.
There appears to be several things at breaking-point over and above the backstage coffee machine, including tempers, patience and the very spirit of the troupe.
Circus life is not as it once was, even the beloved “super juicy” historical rumours and tittle-tattle of Beatrice the Bearded Lady are redacted as the grandmother acrobat doesn’t want to deal with details, despite them involving a blindfolded elephant, a drunken tiger and a fruit scone.
But details are of special interest to Steven Terry Daniel a Safety Analysis Director who is investigating a recent hushed-up and possibly suspicious accident. The circus cast members have been told to get their stories straight by the overbearing ringmaster who has already critiqued their performances as “rubbish”.
The show must go on, but as the pressure mounts both the ringmaster and the safety inspector might blow their tops as home truths are revealed and things might not be as they first appear.
There is fun to be had as the cast throw themselves enthusiastically if melodramatically into juggling the increasingly farcical interviews. The staging has a hint of the burlesque comedy of Abbot and Costello and distinctive stage personas (as used by the Marx Bothers) but it’s a bit too uneven to walk the tightrope.
Not the greatest show on earth but not a “fireball” either, this is a light if slightly frantic little comedy and it’s the kind of sideshow that belongs on the Fringe.
Show Times: 31 July to 11 August 2024 at 12 noon.
Tickets: £13 (£11). Family tickets and other concessions available.
Suitability: 12+