The show that had Simon Cowell saying “If I was the Royal Family, I’d love to watch it” rolled into Bournemouth on 19 February. The Circus of Horrors: The Ventriloquist features some of the greatest, most bizarre and beautiful circus acts imaginable.
The Bournemouth Pavilion was transformed into a circus arena for one night only as the brilliant cast took the audience on a tour of this bizarre world of freaks and geeks.
The theatre was packed to capacity. Ghastly music, gothic dressed ushers, and a dark and smokey environment had the audience feeling like they were in a trance before the show even began.
After a warning that it might be disturbing, the show began with words “There is a storm raging over the dark sea…” roaring through the speakers.
Suddenly, it is 1920s Berlin and things have more of a cabaret and burlesque feel, mixed with gothic rock opera, circus and freak show vibes. Dr Haze rolls into town with his demonic vampire vaudeville show.
A woman hangs from the ceiling of the Pavillion suspended only by her neck on the edge of a blade. Another swings through the air by her ponytail.
The whole thing has jaws dropping, eyes popping and hands sweating.
With hanging beauties, pole dancers, knife throwers, twisted contortionists, flying aerialists, demon dwarfs, gyrating jugglers, voodoo warriors, sword swallowers, skeleton acrobats and its latest and greatest new found star, The Ventriloquist, there is no doubt that Circus is the strongest element of the show.
And if that wasn’t enough to awe you, Captain Dan the Demon Dwarf did some unthinkable tricks with a hoover and a bowling ball which swung like a pendulum attached to his genitalia! This had the audience oohing and aahing in horror and fascination.
Throughout the show you feel your heart beating faster and your foot shaking wildly to the beat of the eerie music. But keep in mind – to sit through the performance, you have endure the sight of fake blood and amputations.
Vulgar, provocative, wild and freakish, The Circus of Horrors will take you to a different era. You feel as though you are living out The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Live and dangerous, here’s a show that, like a vampire, will go on forever.
Related Links
