Venue:
Empire Theatre Where: Sunderland
Date Reviewed:
14 March 2011 WOS Rating: Average Reader Rating: Reader Reviews: View and add to our user reviews Sitting in comfortable theatre should be an improvement on the wooden seats of the familiar “Big Top”, but it also sadly takes so much away. While there is no doubting the skills of the acts, there were no sitting on the edge of your seat moments or gasps of disbelief from the audience, at any point.
Even though Gorbachevsky provided some great illusions and The Popazov act involved firing seven crossbows simultaneously, the show is constantly slowed down by returning to a story of Russian folk lore. A pre recorded commentary tells us of Rasputin’s life as the show progresses, with both classical and contemporary circus acts appearing between the segments on Rasputin.
While all acts worked extremely hard and all the ingredients of a great circus are present such as, tumblers, acrobats, twisting contortionists and slapstick, the show just never takes off.
This show may be very different if seen in the Big Top, but feels safe, too safe, in a theatre.
- by John Dixon
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Reader Reviews
Score Comment Date the show in Bristol was abominable - left at halftime we were so bored - kids too. don't waste your money - fancy charging to watch people skip rope badly. - Stoneking 07 Oct 12
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