Saturday, January 29, 2011

New Shanghai Circus 'Stretches Limits of Human Ability' on Feb. 5
Community Theater, 100 South St, Morristown, NJ
The Community Theatre will offer two performances, at 3 and 7 p.m.
By Jessica Ercolino, January 28, 2011
Celebrate the Chinese New Year with the New Shanghai Circus–a touring company of acrobats, jugglers and contortionists from China–Feb. 5 at the Community Theatre. Shows are at 3 and 7 p.m.
The troupe “stretches the limits of human ability” by bringing 2,000 years of Chinese circus traditions to life, said theater spokesperson Katie Lemery.
Audience members can expect to see young women spinning six plates at a time atop sticks as they go through contortions without ever dropping a dish, she said. In another act, a young man juggles a huge jar–usually using only his back and shoulders–and catches it on his head, she said.
Those attending the show will marvel at the young woman who lies horizontally with no apparent support other than the point of a sword placed against the back of her neck, added Lemery.
The impressive “nose balance” act features a young woman balancing a glass of water on her nose and building a lofty glass structure of plates and glasses before beginning a series of acrobatic moves and walking across a bridge of light bulbs, said the spokeswoman.
With colorful costumes and unbelievable tricks, the performance is “very difficult not to like,” said Ed Kirchdoerffer, Community Theatre general manager.
“It’s very energetic and engaging,” he said. “They are superior athletes–the best in the world; for anyone who’s ever gone into the gym and couldn’t stretch their hands to their feet, they’re going to feel the pain.”
One of Kirchdoerffer’s favorite performances is the “chair ladder.”
“Basically, there are a bunch of stacked chairs from the stage up to the light rafters, and it ends with a performer doing a handstand at the top of probably 10 to 12 chairs,” he explained, and joked, “That’s why I don’t like to sit in the front row.”
The New Shanghai Circus is a great show for the family, according to the organizers. “Kids will love it, and seniors will love it,” Kirchdoerffer said. “It’s a neat thing to see what they can do, and it’s not an outrageous price for a ticket.”
Tickets are $25 for the 3 p.m. show, and $32 for the 7 p.m. show.
The Community Theatre, at the Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, is located at 100 South St., in Morristown. For tickets, call 973-539-8008 or visit www.mayoarts.org. For more information, call 973-539-0345, ext.6529.

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