Big Apple Circus Dec. 10, 2017

The Big Apple Circus has returned to New York's Lincoln Center; after going bankrupt last year as a nonprofit it has returned under the ownership of Big Top Works, who purchased all its assets. This year it is directed by Mark Lonergan and choreographed by Antoinette DiPiertropolo.  To some extent the original Big Apple Circus was known for its performance art (not a term one hears too much anymore) but now it is more traditional circus acts, with Ringling Brothers having gone out of business.  I think at this point a circus appeals more to children than adults and my six-year-old daughter loved it, though the performances can still be exciting and, occasionally, beautiful and the pointlessness of much of the show is part of the appeal.

I was particularly impressed with the balancing act of Dandino Luciana on the rola bola, a board on top of a rolling can that looked like something I have used in physical therapy, and I was impressed by juggler Gamel Garcia, bouncing and juggling a dozen tennis balls at a time. And I liked the acrobats, the Anastasni brothers, and the Flying Tienzianis on  the trapeze.  The Wallendas did a pyramid of seven people on the tightrope, a format that was more interesting than beautiful. The strangest act was that of contortionist Elayne Kraymer, who shot an arrow into a balloon using a bow with her feet, that were over her head.

Circuses have now eliminated the offensive wild animal acts and sideshows.  The Big Apple Circus did have the dog and pony shows of Jenny Vidbel, with the horses running around the ring and the dogs jumping through hoops.  The horses and dogs were loved by the kids in the audience, as were the clowns Grandma (played by Barry Lubin) and Joel Jeske; my daughter particularly liked the part of their act where they took large sips of water and spewed them on each other, reminding me of a scene in Catcher in the Rye.

The current trend in circuses is exemplified by Cirque du Soleil, which relies strictly on human performers and in some ways is like a dance performance. The Big Apple Circus has a foot in the past and a foot trying to extend into the future and one hopes it can continue.