Inspired by the hardboiled crime noir of the 40’s and 50’s, Cirque Nocturne has a narrator rather than a master of ceremonies. Our host is a hard-drinking private investigator attempting to solve yet another murder and encountering a line-up of circus performers who each have a secret of their own.
You can’t really go wrong with Cirque Nocturne.
It’s a lovely framing device for what is, essentially, a straight-forward circus show with all the aerial, fire poi and acrobalance you’d expect. The cast on the whole do a fine job at their individual skills and the two jugglers are particular standout performers with their individual acts. Unfortunately, the only thing that doesn’t really work is the actor playing the P.I. at the centre of it all. He’s not a very good actor and, although his bad puns and one-liners get laughs and groans aplenty, it’s really down to the writing rather than the delivery that it works at all.
Apart from that one complaint, it’s great to see a local Adelaide company filling out a big top at the Fringe and I’m sure that this company will go on to great things. If you like your circus accessible and pretty traditional, you can’t really go wrong with Cirque Nocturne.
