THE BALLOON MAN

REVIEW: Yin Tang by the Chinese State Circus, The Forum, Barrow, 
Thursday March 15



North West Evening Mail
News
Circus has audience on the edge of seats
from:  nwemail.co.uk
Saturday, MARCH 17, 2012
AFTER watching the Circus Of Horrors, last weekend I was worried that I would find the Chinese State Circus’ new production, Yin Yang, a bit tame.


But featuring Shaolin Warriors performing a host of daring stunts and acrobats defying gravity with an array of elaborate tricks, the show was anything but dull.


Sponsored by Wendy Wu Tours, Yin Yang promised to be an explosion of 2,000 years of tradition.


And with a silk aerial act, parasol juggling and an eye-catching Lion Dance, the circus certainly showed the delicate and beautiful side of Chinese culture.


A group of live musicians helped to bring the sounds of the orient to Barrow.  March 2012

 

Splitting up the routines, a cheeky clown entertained the audience, picking out unsuspecting victims to humiliate before dragging a group of bemused looking men on the stage to join him in a silly dance,which received roars of laughter.


The stand out acts of the evening had to be foot juggling with drums, a contortionist and a troop of hoop divers performing somersaults, leaps and jumps.


Completely unique, the circus included many awe-inspiring spectacles, but unfortunately many left the audience on the edge of their seats for all the wrong reasons.


Despite a handful of acts running seamlessly , a lot of the routines appeared unpolished and after a few mistakes, the audience were left gasping and hiding behind their hands, as the cast attempted some of the more daring tricks.


Reaching the end of the show with no major casualties was an achievement but I was disappointed that a few minor mistakes had spoiled what would otherwise have been a spectacular performance. 


In my opinion, advertising themselves as the world’s greatest circus is an exaggeration, but with a few tweaks they could well be on their way.


RACHEL HERMOLLE