Directed by Julius Green, Cirque Berserk certainly lived up to its anticipated berserk nature. Unfortunately, the show’s berserk nature came from the thoughtless mash-up of different acts, which resulted in no clear trajectory.
At points in the show, the stage was far too crowded with acts that had no relevance to one another. An example to mention is when the Timbuktu Tumblers were performing wonderful acrobatics at the same time as someone who was dressed up as a bird was suspended in the air while flapping around. It felt like the show was trying to do too much at the same time, and I was unable to focus on one act completely, which distanced me from the action on stage and made me feel underwhelmed.
Perhaps the choice of staging the show at Theatre Royal contributed to the crowded nature of the stage. When staging a circus in a traditional tent setting, the space to have multiple acts performing alongside one another exists. Therefore, I think that deciding to stage a circus at a theatre requires complete reconsideration of stage traffic.
My main issue with Cirque Berserk was how outdated a number of the acts were. The Mustache Brothers were particularly guilty of this, with their slapstick humour being emblematic of Laurel and Hardy. By labelling something as berserk, I assume that what I am going to witness on stage is not something that I witness on a daily basis. Therefore, by essentially mirroring the slapstick comedy of Laurel and Hardy, the Mustache Brothers were not berserk and were instead completely outdated. The fact that the show was at Theatre Royal gave me the impression that the show would be unlike any circus that I have seen before in a traditional tent setting. I think the choice of location of Cirque Berserk misled me to believe that I would be witnessing something truly berserk, but unfortunately merely involved mirroring the once berserk nature of slapstick comedians.
“four motorbikes reaching speeds of up to 60 mph in a metal sphere-shaded cage”
The set was hauntingly eerie, with the overwhelming presence of the globe of death providing the audience with a snapshot of everything that was to come. To contextualise the globe of death, this act consisted of four motorbikes reaching speeds of up to 60 mph in a metal sphere-shaded cage. Although I have seen an act like this before, it was truly impressive. However, it was performed at the end of the first act and the end of the show. Cirque Berserk would have benefitted from saving this act for the end of the show to increase audience anticipation and suspense.
The technical elements of Cirque Berserk came across as rather melodramatic, with the use of smoke and haze being completely overdone throughout the show, which actually reduced any suspense that had been built up. Additionally, the choice of music throughout the performance was a bit odd, with drum and bass, techno, as well as traditional orchestral pieces being used. This mismatch of music made it difficult for me to establish what vibe Cirque Berserk was trying to establish. Furthermore, the mismatch of costumes added to the inconsistent nature of the show, with the Tropicana Troupe wearing almost tribal-like costumes, as well as the Timbuktu Tumblers resembling farmers in their tweed waistcoats and rag-like shirts. That is to say, the music and costume choices confused the overall vibe, and contributed to the outdated nature of the show.
“I really don’t think a show like Cirque Berserk belongs at a theatre”
If variety is what you’re looking for and you don’t mind a crowded stage then Cirque Berserk is definitely for you- there are a wide range of acts, some of which are truly exceptional. I would definitely recommend Cirque Berserk if it was performed in a traditional tent setting which would not condition an audience member to expect the show to be berserk. Unfortunately, I would not recommend seeing the show at Theatre Royal- I really don’t think a show like Cirque Berserk belongs at a theatre.
6/10
Rosa Morgan
Images Courtesy of Rosa Morgan.
For more reviews follow Impact Magazine on Facebook and Twitter
