THE BALLOON MAN

Not just horsing around


 

The horse show “Apassionata,’ at the Izod Center in Newark this weekend, includes trick-riding.
from: nj.com
By Jaime Lutz/The Star-Ledger 
Saturday, June 02, 2012
You may see death-defying performances at “Apassionata” — you may see animal tricks and comic routines and traveling stuntmen — but don’t be confused: This Izod Center show is no Ringling Bros.


“Circus to me means guys with whips telling horses to do things, and that’s not what we’re about,” said Scott Faris, “Apassionata’s” New York City-based director. “It’s more theater than circus, with horses and riders as the main characters.”


“Apassionata” began in Europe in 2001, showcasing some of the world’s best performers on horseback. For its first North American tour this year, producers tapped Faris, formerly of Montclair, to direct the spectacle after seeing his work on the arena show “Walking With Dinosaurs.” 


But those dinosaurs, of course, weren’t real. The horses are all too real, creating some incredible logistical challenges for the tour, such as transporting the often unusual breeds from Europe and across the country, setting up temporary stables and making the arena stages horse-friendly. Faris even needed to keep apart horses that didn’t get along. To keep things running smoothly, more than 100 cast and crew members worked on the production.


The end result, Faris said, is something truly special. “I’ve been working in entertainment for a while, but ‘Apassionata’ is unique,” he said. Many of the performers come from families that performed on horseback for generations; one team traces their act back 300 years.


The show is in two acts, each about 45 minutes. The finale involves trick-riding. “I can’t watch it every show,” Faris said. “I almost get a heart attack watching these guys ride.” But there haven’t been any injuries so far, he said — these performers know what they’re doing.


It’s not so scary that children won’t enjoy it, Faris said. He should know: He’s taking his three kids to see the show for the first time this weekend. Throughout all the rehearsals, he said, they had only seen videos of the performance. 


“Apassionata” performances continue at the Izod Center, 50 State Route 120 in East Rutherford, today at 3 and 8 p.m., and tomorrow at 3 p.m. Tickets are $30 to $205. For more information, call (201) 935-8500 or visit apassionata.com/usa.