CIRCUS OZ - CRANKED UP
CIRCUS OZ - CRANKED UP, Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour, 1-27 January 2014. Photos by Rob Blackburn: the ensemble and the paint cans; right: the Taiko-wrecking ball.
Whichever way you look at it - and mostly it's open-mouthed and goggle-eyed - Circus Oz is amazing. The unique Australian institution is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year with a show that exemplifies everything it has always stood for: thoughtful politics with equality for women and minorities and social justice to the fore.
And in this show - set high on a skyscraper building site with a chunk of giant steel girder as its suspended centrepiece - the other elements of Circus Oz's special magic are also on display. For an 8-year-old boy, for instance, the shock and awe of seeing "a girl" do the same strength feats as her brawny male partner - lifting and carrying him exactly the same way he had lifted and carried her - is unforgettable and astonishing. James's gasps and grin of wide-eyed delight were unforgettable for his godmother who instantly remembered being equally stunned some 30 years ago by the first generation of Oz strong women.
That's the marvellous thing about Oz - and always has been - it's not that they are the most brilliant acrobats, trapeze flyers, tricksters, joke-makers, jugglers or whatever, it's that they bring a personal and political edge to everything they do. None of it is merely physical, whether it's slithering into an Esky and disappearing, to stuffing up the world's worst card trick for the entire evening, there is a moral point to be made, a life lesson to be learnt and all are carried out with such painless, invisible expertise you have no idea you've been learning until hours later.
If that sounds a bit worthy and dull - it's not even remotely so. Laughter and applause come naturally and often, "Wow!" and "Ooh!" and "Aaah! Oh no!" are the most common responses, wonder and amazement and flabbergastment abound in 100 minutes of non-stop invention and theatre.
Possibly unequaled among political institutions, Circus Oz has never lost touch with its roots and founding principles and these are set out in the current souvenir program. They believe in "diversity, social justice and a good time for all", they want to "cultivate community" and "create great shows". Unlike the blather and lies we heard for months on end leading up to the last federal election, the Oz troupe really means it and live it every day.
As well as the glamour of touring the USA and appearing in New York, Circus Oz has also travelled across Australia from Adelaide to Yuendumu, Coffs Harbour to Oenpelli, Palm Island, Maningrida and Warragul. The effort to do that is hard to comprehend - the logistics are astounding. As is the genuine commitment of the ensemble to equality and inclusiveness: the troupe now has Aboriginal members and a program - BLAKflip - to find and nurture potential young black performers.
Women's refuges, families in need and asylum-seekers and refugees are also in Circus Oz's sights: tickets are donated to those having less fun than the rest of us that directly correlate with donations received from audiences. It also means that the adored Governor-General, Quentin Bryce, was at the gala opening in Sydney to remind us all of the humanity and generosity of spirit that has, until recent times, been part of Australian public life and community attitudes.
Put simply, Circus Oz represents the best of Australia. As they stomp around the stage in their tool belts and ridiculous outfits, the show tells us about trust and love, anarchy and chaos. The performers trust each other - in their potentially life-threatening antics - and absolutely love what they do (there could be no other reason for risking life and limb otherwise, none will ever be rich). The routines - whether flying through the air or tumbling around the stage - also underline that anarchy is an illusion that can only happen through stability and law. And chaos likewise: the greater the mayhem, the more discipline is required to make it so. Hilarious!
So…Cranked Up is the perfect show to see seven men and women riding a single bicycle; to see a huge wrecking ball sort of disguised as a Taiko drum kit not quite colliding with assorted tumblers as it swings back and forth; a girl who plays a trumpet and also juggles big red balls and a table on her feet (not simultaneously, but amazingly), a guy who can balance on a plank on top of a bunch of rolling, wobbling paint cans, another who does the cleverest things with a bunch of hats and his elbows. And of course, there's the flying grand piano…
Circus Oz - still crazy after 35 years - and back in Sydney. Don't miss!
