If you’re a parent looking for a show that you can enjoy as much as your children, you may be looking quite hard. And if you’re an adult looking for a fun show, then the sight of many families in the audience can be an immediate off-putter. Fortunately, that’s not something you need to concern yourself with in Idris Stanton’s Edinburgh Fringe smash hit Wham Glam Circus Man!
An outrageous ringmaster and hype man who knows how to work a room
You may spot Idris around town with his flaming blonde quiff and spangly red jacket and shorts combo, he stands out even in a place as visually competitive as this. He has a very confident stage persona, and will be extremely likeable to some, but probably isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, as he opens with an in-your-face introduction to raucous applause from his soon-to-be adoring audience. Five times!
This circus variety show will treat you with a variety of different skills and spoofs of all the different types of act you’ll see in Edinburgh, from mocking improvisational comedians to the juggling and circus skills that he specialises in. If you break it down, Stanton doesn’t actually do anything spectacular. His juggling is strong but not epic, and much of what he does you could probably do yourself with a little practise.
What you do get here is an outrageous ringmaster and hype man who knows how to work a room as well as anyone in this city. Expect roars of laughter, normal people becoming air guitar legends, a great atmosphere from start to finish, and top class physical comedy. He hits the nail on the head with the show title. The soundtrack to his show is a journey through glamorous musical greats, including a Queen medley cleverly set to a rattling juggling routine.
The show really is a lot of fun, and adults should not be put off by the 8+ age restriction. While the show is family friendly, it isn’t listed as a children’s show and certainly doesn’t pander to the kids, but has just the right amount of innuendo and stunts that will have you clapping and whooping along, perhaps even bringing out the childish side within you.
