CIRCUS REVIEW: "Zing Zang Zoom" Through Sunday at the Allstate Arena, Rosemont; then Nov. 17-29 at the United Center in Chicago; Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes; Tickets: $13-$60 at 800-745-3000 or http://www.ringling.com/
Each edition of the Greatest Show on Earth is a blend of circus traditionalism—elephants, tigers, Chinese acrobats—and whatever the great minds at Feld Entertainment think is necessary to attract and stimulate today’s over-attracted and over-stimulated kids. Apparently, the thing of the moment is wizardry, and I suspect we have Harry Potter to thank for that.
A high-wire version of Quidditch would doubtless have brought up pesky rights issues. But the Harry-less 139th edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus still contains a lot more magic and illusions than any of its recent predecessors.
“Circus celebrities” (the name Feld gives to its high-paying premium customers) even get to levitate their parents, a nifty trick that they’re told will be very useful if they’re ever looking for a raise in allowance. Even the ringmaster has been re-christened as the “Zingmaster.” If it weren’t for the absence of sultry assistants and the comforting smell of the pachyderms, you’d think you were watching a David Copperfield show. Or maybe poor Siegfried and Roy (which Feld also produced). In the second act of “Zing Zang Zoom,” we get to see a tiger disappear. I was more interesting in seeing the video screen that dominated too many prior editions disappear. And I am happy to note that Ringling Bros. has finally realized that its appeal does and should lie entirely in three dimensions. Now if only it could make that illuminated, blackout-killing concession booth at the back of the arena disappear. This seductive grotto of high-priced plastic is tolerable at intermission; making kids drool and parents hang on to their billfold for the entire show goes way, way too far. Otherwise, “Zing Zang Zoom” is a good time. Illusions are tough to pull off in a massive arena, but these tricks (many executed by clowns) are all remarkably clear and impressive. I confess a weakness for the human cannonball, a specialty act that always delivers a good bang for your buck. In this case, you get two bangs, since “Zing Zang Foom” features a twin set of cannonballs, occupied by two glamorous astronauts (if that’s the right term), including the Russian Ekaterina Borzikova, not to mention Tina Miser, from exotic Peru. Peru, Indiana.
The wheel of death, which shows up once again, is ready for retirement. But the clowning of Alan “Tweedy” Digweed (aka Mr. Gravity) was chipper; and this was a welcome return for the head-churning act of Clara Ruiz and Fabio Melo da Silva, who hang themselves from the ceiling and play badminton. All this, zebras, performing pooches and the International Folkloric Dancers. Who said vaudeville was dead? It just ran away with the circus.
Chicago Tribune, by Chris Jones 10/12/09
Each edition of the Greatest Show on Earth is a blend of circus traditionalism—elephants, tigers, Chinese acrobats—and whatever the great minds at Feld Entertainment think is necessary to attract and stimulate today’s over-attracted and over-stimulated kids. Apparently, the thing of the moment is wizardry, and I suspect we have Harry Potter to thank for that.
A high-wire version of Quidditch would doubtless have brought up pesky rights issues. But the Harry-less 139th edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus still contains a lot more magic and illusions than any of its recent predecessors.
“Circus celebrities” (the name Feld gives to its high-paying premium customers) even get to levitate their parents, a nifty trick that they’re told will be very useful if they’re ever looking for a raise in allowance. Even the ringmaster has been re-christened as the “Zingmaster.” If it weren’t for the absence of sultry assistants and the comforting smell of the pachyderms, you’d think you were watching a David Copperfield show. Or maybe poor Siegfried and Roy (which Feld also produced). In the second act of “Zing Zang Zoom,” we get to see a tiger disappear. I was more interesting in seeing the video screen that dominated too many prior editions disappear. And I am happy to note that Ringling Bros. has finally realized that its appeal does and should lie entirely in three dimensions. Now if only it could make that illuminated, blackout-killing concession booth at the back of the arena disappear. This seductive grotto of high-priced plastic is tolerable at intermission; making kids drool and parents hang on to their billfold for the entire show goes way, way too far. Otherwise, “Zing Zang Zoom” is a good time. Illusions are tough to pull off in a massive arena, but these tricks (many executed by clowns) are all remarkably clear and impressive. I confess a weakness for the human cannonball, a specialty act that always delivers a good bang for your buck. In this case, you get two bangs, since “Zing Zang Foom” features a twin set of cannonballs, occupied by two glamorous astronauts (if that’s the right term), including the Russian Ekaterina Borzikova, not to mention Tina Miser, from exotic Peru. Peru, Indiana.
The wheel of death, which shows up once again, is ready for retirement. But the clowning of Alan “Tweedy” Digweed (aka Mr. Gravity) was chipper; and this was a welcome return for the head-churning act of Clara Ruiz and Fabio Melo da Silva, who hang themselves from the ceiling and play badminton. All this, zebras, performing pooches and the International Folkloric Dancers. Who said vaudeville was dead? It just ran away with the circus.
Chicago Tribune, by Chris Jones 10/12/09
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