'Traditional' circus still fun for everyone
By Chad Pata
Special to The Advertiser
A crowd of around 2,500 welcomed the Moscow State Circus to town at Blaisdell Arena last night for the first of nine shows this weekend.
• On O'ahu: 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. today; 1, 4 and 7 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday at Blaisdell Arena • On the Big Island: 1, 4 and 7 p.m. April 3 and 4 at Hilo Afook-Chinen Auditorium; 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. April 6 and 7 at the Kekuaokalani Gymnasium in Kona • $20 general, $25 preferred seating, $30 VIP seating, free for children under 12 with coupon (one per paid adult; general admission only; coupons available at Ticketmaster outlets, Blaisdell box office and local merchants; coupon also redeemable for preferred seating upgrade) • (877) 750-4400
It is described by ringmaster Crosby Espana as a "traditional circus" keeping with the more original acts than you might find in Cirque du Soleil.
Moscow State Circus
The floor around the ring is filled with cotton candy stands and inflatable jumpers to entertain the kids before the show begins. When the lights went down last night, the circus came out with its big guns first.
The Wallenda mother/daughter duo of Rietta and Lyric offered a high-wire act in the style of the patriarch of the family, Karl. Using his patented chair on the high wire, the girls got the kids clapping right away, but left parents wanting more.
Other acts such as Arkady Adronik helped fill the gaps with his ladder balancing and juggling. At one point he had a 10-foot metallic ladder balanced on his head while juggling three bowling pins.
One new bit involves revolutionary new bouncing stilts that allowed the performer Eugene to leap around the center ring with superhuman strength. The stilts resemble stainless-steel compound bows attached to his feet and looked like something out of "The Phantom Menace."
Even with all the high-flying action, Nino the Clown stole the show. Attired like a hobo with a Groucho Marx moustache, he wreaked havoc on the ring master and his assistant.
Even the older set had a couple of pieces to enjoy, with the traditional Russian transformation act by Marika and Elena where they changed several outfits instantaneously on stage.
Also for the more serious fan is the hand balancing. The most athletic of all the acts, Michael and Pebel seemed to fuse into one multi-jointed body as they balanced on each other with just the strength of their hands.
The acrobatics were provided by the Sando Troupe, which had two bits, its second being the most outstanding. Using a teeterboard, troupe members bounced the youngest Sando onto a two-man high stack, catching him by his ankles. They finished with a two-man drop on the board that catapulted a man into a quadruple somersault across the Blaisdell.
The show is not overwhelmingly exciting, but the kids loved it. And when you consider that no-name punk acts command $20 a ticket for an hour show in this town, the value on your money is good as well.
Reach Chad Pata at chadpata@mac.com.
