Review: Circus skills took my breath away

I would travel across oceans to witness again the magnificence of Australia's "hottest new circus company", Casus Circus. PHOTO/FEN LAN CHUANG

Knee Deep Casus Circus Spiegeltent, Havelock North Domain Wednesday, October 28 Reviewed by Brenda Vowden

I would travel across oceans to witness again the gravity-defying, body part-defying, awe-inspiring and take-your-breath-away magnificence of Australia's "hottest new circus company", Casus Circus.

Wednesday night's show was held inside the beautiful Spiegeltent, on the second night of the two-week inaugural Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival.

Our party of four was ushered into the tent, a spectacle of stained-glass windows, hardwood mirrored pillars and velvet curtains, reminding me of a very large and ornate gypsy caravan.

I didn't do my homework so knew nothing about the upcoming show, although began to feel nervous when the view from my front row seat was of a rather small stage - it didn't look like much room for a circus to perform on.

Following a bit of good-humoured banter from MC Ali Beal - where I must admit the terror of audience participation reared its ugly head - and introductions from festival director Pitsch Leiser, it was time for the show.

From the first tentative steps of the only woman in the four team line-up, placing her dainty feet on a dozen raw eggs and wobbling along another three cartons, to the jaw-dropping final act, the audience was left gasping in wonderment, puzzlement and astonishment.

Sometimes I found it hard to look - and sometimes it was hard to tell which body part was which - as the foursome seemingly balanced within an inch of their lives.

Each member's muscles tensed and shook as they climbed and twisted up each others' bodies, balancing from heads and walking across outstretched arms. The strength and cool-headed performance of the artists was beyond outstanding.

Just when we thought we'd seen it all, a small table was placed atop four bottles. Two egg cartons were placed on top of the table. A collective gasp could be heard as one troupe member stood on the eggs, another somehow made their way on to the first one's shoulders and, when we almost couldn't stand it any more, another managed to make their way to balance on the very top.

An audible sigh of relief rang out as the three-tiered human tower untangled itself and let the audience process what they had just seen.

The tent erupted into a standing ovation as Casus Circus took their bow.

I left the wonderful Spiegeltent with my head shaking and my mouth hanging open in utter wonderment. That memory will take centre stage as one of my life's all-time favourites.