CIRCUS IS OVER THE TOP! (now playing at the Honda Center in Orange County)
By Tom Teicholz at 22 July, 2008, 11:23 am
The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus is back in town — “Over The Top” is the name of this year’s presentation.
My daughter, having attended last year was excited to go again and this time we brought along friends, another dad and daughter, Charles and Emma N..
My daughter’s first question was “Is Bello (the Clown) back?” and the answer was no. But the circus had an entirely new show (my recollection of the circus was that it was the same show each year). What was interesting was how much of the show was new, how many new acts were presented, and how much this show attempted to integrate video and ‘edginess” into the show — while hewing to a traditional circus show.
There are now video screens, and a live band, and the colors on some of the costumes are brighter, and some of the acts funkier such as the bombastic bouncers who do tricks riding giant inflated tires. There were showgirls dressed up as motorcycle maidens, and even a number that had a certain cirque-like texture to it — still, the most memorable acts that stood out were the traditional animal acts: Cossacks on horses, A man versus Tigers, and the Elephants dancing.
The highlight of the show are the Torres family, who hail from Paraguay and who enter a steel cage ball as big as a hot air balloon (it kind of looks like a Montgolfier) riding motorcycles reaching 65mph — first four, then five, then seven, it;s breathtaking, amazing, and something none of us will forget — until next year.
In accordance with our tradition begun last year, my associate Natasha Teicholz, now age 10, filed this report:
“I thought the circus was phenomenal. I think my friend Emma thought the same. When seven motorcyclists went in one small cage the size of an elephant — my friend Emma and I were saying ‘Oh my gosh! They can’t do this! After they were done, Emma and I were speechless. All we could do was put our hands over our mouths and look at each other. My favorite part was when the elephants did their dance. And don’t let me forget about the trapeze artists. One of them jumped from one bar to the other but in the air and he did a triple back flip. To tell you the truth I didn’t have a favorite part, but my Dad did.”
Yes, I did. My favorite part was taking my daughter to the circus and seeing her enjoy it so!
Wednesday, July 23 7:30pm
Thursday, July 24 1:00pm & 7:30pm
Friday, July 25th 10:30 am & 7:30pm
Saturday, July 26 11:30am, 3:30 pm & 7:30pm
Sunday, July 27, 1:30pm, 5:30pm
Tuesday, July 29th 7:30pm
Wednesday, July 30th 1:00pm & 7:30pm
Thursday, July 31st 10:30am & 7:30pm
Friday, August 1st 1:00pm & 7:30pm
Saturday, August 2nd 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
Sunday, August 3rd 1:30pm & 5:30pm
Tickets are $90.00 (Circus Celebrity), $65.00 (Front
Row), $37.00 (VIP), $25.00, $19.00
and $15.00. All seats are reserved, and tickets are
available by calling Ticketmaster at
213-480-3232 or 714-740-2000. For group rates and
information, call 877-234-8425.
For more information on Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® visit www.ringling.com.
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